DETROIT (1/2/2016) -- Senior Anton Wilson poured in a career-high 34 points – including 26 in the second half - and sophomore Jaleel Hogan had a career-best 17 as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team outgunned Youngstown State, 96-87, on Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall. 

The win was the seventh on the year for Detroit at home as it has now won 10 in a row on Dick Vitale Court to move to 7-5 on the season and 1-0 in the Horizon League. 

Wilson was 10-of-18 from the field and a career-best 11-of-11 at the free throw line with three treys. He also pulled down a career-high nine rebounds and had three assists. Hogan was perfect going 7-of-7 from the field with five rebounds. Sophomore Paris Bass netted 14 points with seven boards and three assists and junior Matthew Grant tallied 12 points, two rebounds and two helpers.  

Detroit outrebounded Youngstown State (5-9, 0-1 HL), 53-20, including 21-3 on the offensive glass, while forcing 12 turnovers. The Titans also held the edge in second chance points (22-4) and points in the paint (48-28) and finished with 18 assists. 

Youngstown State actually led by seven, 50-43, at the 16:04 mark in the second half when the Titans took control with a 24-4 charge over the next six minutes. Wilson started the spurt with two free throws and after a dunk by freshman Gerald Blackshear, he was able to record the old-fashioned three-point play with a basket and free throw and the game was tied at 50-50.

A couple of baskets by Bass pushed the score to 54-52 and then Wilson and Bass hit a pair of free throws for a 58-52 lead. Wilson would continue to get to the line as he was aggressive all day and made two more free throws and, eventually, the surge ended with redshirt freshman Aaron Foster-Smith connecting on a jumper for a 67-54 advantage with 10:01 left.

The Titans would extend the margin to as many as 17 as Wilson drained back-to-back 3-pointers. The next time down the court, he followed his own miss by getting a rebound and laying it in for a 90-73 lead with 1:55 remaining.  

Blackshear ended the contest with six points, eight rebounds, a block and a steal and junior Chris Jenkins posted six points, six rebounds and a career and team-high five assists.

Detroit shot 47.8 percent (33-of-69) from the field and was 25-of-29 (86.2%) from the charity stripe. 

The first half was a back and forth affair featuring five ties and three lead changes.  Detroit took an early 9-6 lead, but six-straight points by Youngstown State put the Penguins back up. 

Later, the game was tied at 20-all when Bass added a basket and Blackshear added a layup to go in front by four midway through the stanza. The game was then tied at 35-35 at the 3:36 mark when the Penguins netted eight in a row to jump ahead, 43-35, and would go into the break up, 43-37.

Detroit shot 45.2 percent from the field and outrebounded Youngstown State, 26-11, in the first 20 minutes. 

 The red, white and blue will now get ready for the Cleveland State Vikings in another Titan basketball doubleheader on Monday, Jan. 4. The women will play CSU as 5:00 p.m., with the men to follow at 7:30 p.m. 

Game Notes:
Detroit has now won five straight over Youngstown State and nine of the last 10… UDM leads the all-time series, 31-9, and is now 19-3 against the Penguins in the Motor City… Detroit is 14-22 overall in Horizon League openers…  UDM is 52-5 under head coach Ray McCallum when scoring 80 or more and 25-3 in the Horizon League… The Titans have now scored 88 or more six times this season, including five games in the 90's…  It was the most points in a HL game since dominating UIC, 98-47 in 2013… The 53 rebounds were the most since grabbing 55 against Niagara in a 96-77 win in 2010… The 18 assists are tied for the second most on the season with the 18 against Central State and behind the 22 versus UM-Dearborn… The 25 free throws were the second-most behind the 29 against the Wolverines… Hogan's previous career high was 16 at Pittsburgh earlier this season… Grant was in double figures for the second time this year and one off his season-best of 13 against UM-Dearborn… Bass was in double figures for the third time in his five games… Blackshear has now recorded seven or more rebounds six times this year…