DETROIT (1/8/2016) – The opening three went in from sophomore Paris Bass and the Titans never looked back as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team steamrolled UIC, 87-69, on Friday night in a nationally-televised game on ESPNU.

The win moved Detroit to 9-5 on the season and 3-0 in the Horizon League, setting up a showdown with undefeated Valparaiso on Sunday. The Crusaders moved to 12-3, 2-0 in the HL with a win over Oakland on Friday evening. 

The victory was also the 12th straight at home for the Titans, who are now 9-0 on Dick Vitale Court this year. 

Five players scored in double figures led by sophomore Paris Bass' 17 points. Senior Carlton Brundidge had 15 points, while junior Chris Jenkins finished with 14. Senior Anton Wilson and freshman Gerald Blackshear had 10 points apiece with Blackshear pulling down a team-best six rebounds. 

Detroit jumped out to a 17-2 lead just six minutes into the contest as the defense held UIC to 0-of-7 from the field with three turnovers. The Titan offense was 7-of-11 in that span with Jenkins leading the way with eight points. 

UDM would later open up a 21-point advantage, 28-7, thanks to an 8-0 run capped off with a Brundidge  layup.  The Titans would keep their lead in double digits the rest of the half as they took a 47-27 lead at the break.

The second half was much of the same as Detroit never let its lead slip under 15 and an 8-1 run late in the game extended its lead to as many as 24, 75-51, with 6:01 remaining.

The Titans would then just eat away the clock as they won by double digits for the fourth time this season. 

Jenkins and Wilson had five rebounds with Wilson also registering a career-high four steals. Brundidge handed out a team-high three helpers and sophomore Jaleel Hogan tallied eight points, three rebounds and two blocks.

Detroit shot 45.6 percent from the field and was 31-of-39 at the charity stripe, a season high in made free throws, and also forced 18 UIC turnovers. 

Detroit will now get ready to battle defending Horizon League champion Valparaiso as that game will tip at 1:00 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 10, and will be televised nationally on the American Sports Network and ESPN3.com. 

Game Notes:
Detroit now leads the all-time series, 30-15, including 18-5 in the Motor City… UIC was the last team to beat Detroit at home, 83-73, last season… The 12-game home winning streak is the second longest in the conference behind Valparaiso's 20 and the Titans host the Crusaders on Sunday… It was the 10th time this season that Detroit has had four or more players in double figures and the third time it has had five in double figures… Detroit is 59-of-81 at the free-throw line in the last two games… It was the fourth-straight game that Detroit has outrebounded its opponent and the sixth time in the last eight games… Jenkins had scored just 14 points in the last two games… Blackshear was in double figures for the second-straight game… Brundidge's 15 points was the most since his season-high 23 at Oral Roberts…