GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - It all comes down to the final two games of the regular season for the Davenport men's basketball team. The Panthers are looking to qualify for the GLIAC Tournament for the first time since winning it back during the 2021-22 season. This week will be no picnic as they host two West Michigan rivals in Grand Valley State on Tuesday and Ferris State on Saturday. DU will need to find the defense that propelled them to early-season success after giving up 100 points per game in road losses to Lake Superior State (99-79) and Saginaw Valley State (101-94) last week. Davenport is in a three-way tie for seventh place alongside Ferris State and Saginaw Valley State at 7-11 in the GLIAC. 

The Panthers have posted a 1-5 record in February, but still have time to reverse the trend and punch their ticket to the postseason. DU has been efficient on the offensive end shooting 46.4 percent this month. Two notable stats include three-point and free-throw shooting by the opposition. Opponents are connecting on 38.4 percent behind the arc and have made 21 more three's than Davenport. They also are getting the free-throw line more frequently and converting. DU is 90-of-129 (.698), while their opponents are 133-of-165 (.806). Ken Walker is averaging 19.2 points per game this month and shooting 39.5 percent behind the arc. Curtis Jackson is averaging 14.5 points and shooting 51.4 percent from the floor. He also has nearly a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio (28/15). Dylan Smith is averaging 11 points and 6.8 rebounds this month and also has 14 assists compared to 10 turnovers.

Scouting the Opponents
Grand Valley State (20-6, 13-5 GLIAC)
• Grand Valley State is enjoying their best conference season since 2019-20 when they finished 15-5. The Lakers are currently 13-5 in third place and just one game behind Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech. GVSU's title hopes took a big hit last week with a pair of losses on the road against Saginaw Valley State (92-65) and Lake Superior State (105-95). The Cardinals swept the season series and handed the Lakers their largest margin of defeat this season. LSSU also scored the most points against Grand Valley State this season. Lake Superior State did not cool down after beating DU on Thursday. They shot 54.8 percent on Saturday against GVSU and made 14 triples. GVSU shot it better at 57.1 percent, but lost the points off turnovers category by a 27-10 margin. GVSU had three players score 20-plus points led by Trevor Smith, Jr. with 21. Mason Docks and Antaune Allen each netted 20 points.

• The Lakers and Panthers played back on Jan. 15 in Allendale and the Panthers had their largest margin of defeat in the all-time series, 90-50. GVSU connected on 14-of-27 from behind the arc and snagged 49 rebounds. Davenport shot 37 percent for the game (7-of-29 3's) and were led by Ken Walker's 17 points. Marshaun Flakes added 10 points, three assists, and three steals.

Ferris State (10-15, 7-11 GLIAC)
• The Bulldogs are entering Tuesday night having dropped their last three games and are fighting for a spot in the GLIAC Tournament. FSU, Saginaw Valley State, and Davenport are all 7-11 and tied for seventh place. It appears two of these three teams will make the conference tournament next week. Saturday's contest between the Bulldogs and Panthers could very well determine who makes the postseason. Ferris State fell 79-68 on Monday night in Big Rapids against league-leading Michigan Tech. The Huskies led by just a deuce at halftime before the Huskies pulled away in the second half. Four players were in double figures with Tae Boyd's 14 points leading the way. Bryce Moore totaled 13 points off the bench. 

• In the first meeting between Ferris State and DU back on Jan. 17, the Panthers fell 82-69 in Big Rapids. Davenport shot 41.1 percent from the floor, including 8-of-27 from behind the arc. DU was also 15-of-21 at the free throw line. Ferris State shot 53.4 percent, including 50 percent from deep (13-of-26). The Bulldogs did not frequent the free throw stripe, but did finish 7-of-8. Chang Hoth scored a team-high 24 points for the Bulldogs on 9-of-11 shooting and also had five assists. Ken Walker dropped a team-high 18 points, while Curtis Jackson posted a double-double with 13 points and a career-high 13 assists.

Live Coverage
Tuesday, Feb. 24 vs. Grand Valley State - 7:30 PM (DU Student Center) - Live Video - Live Stats
Saturday, Feb. 28 vs. Ferris State (Senior Day) - 3:00 PM (DU Student Center) - Live Video - Live Stats