Box Score

The UDM men's basketball team gave Illinois all it could handle in the first half, but the Fighting Illini shot 64-percent for the game as the Titans fell on the road, 82-51, on Saturday night.

Junior Thomas Kennedy (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) led the way for the Titans for the second-straight game, scoring a game-high 17 points. Senior Chris Hayes (Chicago, IL/Mt. Carmel) netted nine points, while junior Woody Payne (Inkster, MI/Ypsilanti) added seven markers and four steals.

The Titans (3-7) stayed with Illinois (10-1) throughout the first half using some timely baskets and key defensive stops. Detroit trailed by seven, 22-15, midway through the period when UDM scored six straight to get within one, 22-21, at the 8:03 mark. Hayes started the spurt with an acrobatic lay up followed by two free throws from senior Michael Harrington (Country Club Hills, IL/Rich Central). Payne then added a bucket off a great defensive play ripping the ball out Illinois' Demetri McCamey's hands.

The Titans then went the next five minutes without scoring as the home team raced out to an 11-point advantage, 32-21, with just three minutes left in the half. Payne ended the run when he beat the shot clock with a three, while Kennedy added a basket with just over a minute left and UDM went into the half down by just eight, 34-26.

UDM struggled to score in the second half as Illinois broke the game open with an 18-4 charge coming out of the locker room to go out in front by 24, 52-28. Detroit battled, but could not contain Illinois the rest of the way trailing by as many as 32 in the game.

Detroit will close out the 2008 calendar year with a contest against in-state rival Central Michigan on Tuesday, Dec. 23. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at Rose Arena in Mount Pleasant.