Box Score

Juniors Xavier Keeling (Huntsville, AL/J.O. Johnson) and Woody Payne (Inkster, MI/Ypsilanti) each netted career highs on the day as the Detroit Titans men's basketball team held off a late Saint Louis rally to earn its second win of the season, 62-57, on Saturday afternoon in Calihan Hall. With the victory, UDM moved to 2-3 on the year, while the Billikens fell to 2-3. 

“It was a huge win for us,” said head coach Ray McCallum. “It showed a lot about our will and determination in the second half that we didn't give in at the key moments. We really executed down the stretch. We talked a lot to our players about how they have to step up and make plays and the guys did that today.”

Keeling finished the night with game-high 21 points and nine rebounds, while Payne ended the contest with 17 points, including an 8-for-10 effort at the charity stripe, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. 

Detroit looked like it would cruise to a double-digit victory when the Titans had an 11-point lead, 55-44 with just over two minutes left in the contest. Saint Louis' Tommy Liddell III then connected on a basket and a free throw and the next time down the floor hit a three to get the Billikens back within five, 55-50, with 1:38 left. Liddell then got SLU even closer with another bucket off a Titan turnover and Detroit held a slim three-point lead, 55-52, with 1:23 left. 

After the Titans pushed its lead back to six, 58-52, five quick points by the Billikens once again put the game in doubt. Detroit then hit four straight free throws down the stretch as Payne and Keeling each went a perfect 2-for-2 at the charity stripe to seal the victory. 

The Titans won the battle of the boards, 31-24, the fifth-straight game Detroit has outrebounded its opponent. UDM hit on 79-percent of its free throws going 19-of-24 on the day. The defense held Saint Louis to just 37-percent shooting, while forcing 16 turnovers. 

The Titans raced out to an early 10-2 lead making five of their first eight shots from the field, while holding Saint Louis to just one basket on its first seven attempts. Junior Jason Bennett (Jacksonville, FL/Arlington Country Day) was the key catalyst scoring the first six points. 

The Billikens came back with a 13-4 run to take the lead, 15-14, midway through the first. From there on both teams traded baskets, with no team having more then a three-point advantage as Detroit trailed at the half, 26-24.

The game was tied at 32-32 with 11:46 left when the Titans broke the game open with an 11-3 run. Junior Eulis Stephens (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) started the spark with a three and followed with a layup for five quick points. Both teams then went almost two minutes without scoring until Keeling added a basket giving Detroit a 39-32 advantage with 8:64 left. 

Saint Louis would cut the lead to five on two occasions only to see Detroit push it back to eight off two key 3-pointers by Keeling and junior Nemanja Jokic (Sombor, Serbia/Mechanical). The Titans would later extend its cushion to 11, 55-44, with just 2:09 left in the game. 

Detroit will now hit the road for three straight games, starting with league play this weekend. The 30th Horizon League season starts on Thursday as the Titans travel to Milwaukee to face the Panthers. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m. (EST).