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CHICAGO--  A second half run and key defensive stops propelled the Detroit Titan men's basketball team to a 72-69 win at host UIC Saturday afternoon at the UIC Pavilion in Horizon League play.  Trailing by seven with a minute to go, the Flames rallied to close within a point with 25 seconds left, but Ray McCallum grabbed an offensive rebound on a free throw and the putback gave UDM the gritty road win.

The finish was eerily similar to a game one week ago when Milwaukee trailed the Titans by three with Chase Simon at the free throw line with under five seconds remaining.  In that game, the Panthers escaped with a win after missed free throws and a desperation three.  Not this time.

McCallum snagged the offensive rebound on a second free throw miss and layed it in for a three-point lead.  Donavan Foster then stole the long in-bounds pass to ice it and Detroit ended the game with a share of first place in the Horizon League.

UIC benefited from Detroit's slow start offensively.  Paul Carter had the hot hand, scoring eight of the team's first 12 points.  UIC gradually mounted a 16-8 advantage at the midway point of the opening half.

The key moment of the opening 20 minutes would come at the 5:19 mark and UIC leading 24-17.  Dual technical fouls were called and a delay ensued as the officials attempted to sort out fouls via video replay.  Both Eli Holman and Brad Birton would be ejected from the game after the two battled for position on the Detroit offensive end during the play.

Down its big man and already scuffling on offense, Detroit got some key contributions from its bench as the Titans reserves tallied a dozen of UDM's 25 halftime points.  Chicago native Donavan Foster made all three of his shots in the first half to keep the score within seven at the break, 32-25.

In the second half, the Titans found their offense from Jason Calliste.  The sophomore was 0-for-4 from the field in the first 20 minutes but made three triples in the first eight minutes after the break and UDM had its first lead since the opening minute.  

A Chris Blake three and a conventional three-point play from McCallum fueled a 12-1 run and the Titan lead stretched to 58-48 with eight minutes left.  A quick 7-0 run looked to give the home team momentum but a fourth Calliste triple re-quieted the Pavilion crowd and Detroit clinged to a 61-55 lead.

The Flames would not go quietly, trimming the deficit down to a bucket before McCallum drained a long three with the shot clock winding down to make it 64-59 with 3:20 left.  Simon's layup gave UDM a comfortable 68-61 advantage, however, a pair of dunks and a jumper after a missed free throw sliced the lead all the way down to a single point with 29 second showing on the clock.

McCallum calmly swished two freebies and Carter answered to set-up the closing-seconds drama.  Simon missed the first free throw and on the second, McCallum raced in and corralled it and laid it off the glass and Foster intercepted any chance for another UIC comeback bid.

McCallum led the way for the Titans, scoring 12 of his 17 points in the second half.  Calliste added 16 points on four second-half treys, going a perfect 4-for-4 from distance after halftime.  Detroit shot 59.3 percent from the field in period two, recovering from a first half that saw them shoot 10-for-30 (33.3).

Lowe added 11 points, five rebounds and six blocks off the bench for Detroit.  Carter was the Flames' leading scorer with 19 while K.C. Robbins chipped-in 17 and Robo Kreps 15.

Detroit will host Butler on Friday in a nationally-televised contest.  The game is scheduled for a 9:00 p.m. tip on ESPNU.  

Notes:  Detroit is 4-1 in Horizon League play, matching last year's start (UDM finished 9-9 last season) ...  UIC made just one three-pointer the entire game (1-of-8) ... Lowe now has four games with at least five blocks this season and leads the league with his 47 rejections.