GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The toughest road trip of the season proved to be just as advertised as the Davenport men's basketball team went north to the Upper Peninsula last weekend and came away with a pair of defeats against Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech. The Wildcats were firing on all cylinders in Friday's 101-65 victory over the Panthers. NMU has now vaulted to No. 18 in the latest NABC Division II poll after they also defeated Grand Valley State, 72-60, on Saturday. The Wildcats have now won 12 in a row dating back to Nov. 15. The Panthers had only dropped a pair of games prior to Friday and the margin of victory was a long shot compared to the previous of 10 points in the season opener against Rockhurst. Northern Michigan raced out to a 16-0 lead and never looked back. Davenport went scoreless for the first 7:13 of the game before an Alden Ritt jumper in the paint. The Wildcats caught fire from behind the three-point arc going 21-of-37, including 8-of-13 in the pivotal first half narrative. Curtis Jackson led the Panthers in scoring for the first time this season with 13 points and also led with five assists and three steals.

The Panthers fared better the next day on Saturday in Houghton against No. 5 Michigan Tech. The Huskies were coming off a loss to Grand Valley State and despite the 77-68 win over Davenport fell seven spots in the national poll to No. 12 this week. DU scored 30 of their 68 points in the paint and limited the Huskies to 18 points. Davenport was unable to overcome 11 three-pointers and 18 made free throws by Michigan Tech, even though both teams connected on 24 field goals. Michigan Tech led 40-33 at halftime and by as many as 13 points in the first half. The Panthers answered in the second half and found themselves tied at 58 with eight minutes to play. MTU would respond with a 12-0 run, which changed the outcome in favor of the Huskies. Jackson continued his stellar weekend with a career-high 23 points to go with six rebounds and five assists in 40 minutes of action. He also set a career high with three triples in four tries. Ritt ended with 14 points and five rebounds, going 6-of-11 from the floor. Ken Walker scored 16 points and went 7-of-8 at the free throw line. Dylan Smith finished with 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

The Panthers return home for a pair of critical games in a log-jammed GLIAC where five teams, including DU and this week's opponents of Purdue Northwest and Wayne State, are 2-2 in the early going.

Scouting the Opponents
Purdue Northwest (6-5, 2-2 GLIAC)
• The Pride and Panthers both entered the NCAA ranks at the same time and have played to an 8-6 series since then with Davenport holding the slight edge. The Pride have won the last three meetings, which is their longest streak in the series. Purdue Northwest hit the 100-point mark for the first time in the series back on Feb. 15, 2025 at home. Collin Albert led the Pride with 31 points. Jackson Ware contributed 17 points on 5-of-8 from the arc. The Pride connected on 16-of-29 from deep in the win.

• Purdue Northwest has played steady ball since beginning the season at 0-3. They have won six of their last eight games including a GLIAC win over Saginaw Valley State on Jan. 4 on the road (71-63). The Pride defense limited the Cardinals to 38.5 percent shooting, including 5-of-26 from the arc. Kyle Ross led the Pride with 19 points (8-of-12 FG) and notched a double-double with 10 boards. Kevin Taylor chipped in 18 points and eight rebounds. Purdue Northwest has been accurate from deep this season shooting 39.3 percent, which is second in the conference and 20th in Division II.

Wayne State (5-5, 2-2 GLIAC)
• The Warriors have a slight edge, 9-7, in the all-time series against the Panthers and have won the last three meetings. WSU captured an 81-70 win back on Feb. 22, 2025 in Grand Rapids. Carmelo Harris led Wayne State with 19 points and had two rebounds. Jordan Briggs came off the bench to score 15 points to go with five rebounds and a team-high five assists. The Warriors made 27-of-33 at the free throw line. 

• Wayne State is an even 5-5 overall and 2-2 in the GLIAC and enter this week with a win over Lake Superior State on Jan. 4 in the Soo. The Warriors got the 77-71 victory as Briggs led five players in double figures with 17 points. He was 8-of-8 at the free throw line and also had three assists with no turnovers. Jotham Nweke scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 33 minutes. WSU hits the offensive glass with authority and leads the league with 13.9 rebounds per game. They also rank third in the conference forcing 13.9 turnovers per game. Briggs for the season is leading the squad with 17.9 points per game and is shooting 47.1 percent from the floor and 83.6 percent at the charity stripe. Nweke is leading the team with 5.1 rebounds per contest and is contributing 10.5 points per game. Carlos Paul III is second on the team with 12.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

Live Coverage
Thursday, Jan. 8 - 7:30 PM vs. Purdue Northwest (DU Student Center) - (Live Video - Live Stats)
Saturday, Jan. 10 - 3:00 PM vs. Wayne State (DU Student Center) - (Live Video - Live Stats)
Tickets