Box Score

In a game that featured 10 lead changes, three ties and 50 combined fouls, the Detroit Titans men's basketball team dropped its Horizon League opener, 71-62, at Milwaukee on Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Arena. 

After being tied at 27-27 at the half, Detroit (2-4, 0-1 HL) scored the first five points to open up the second period, taking a 32-27 lead. The Titans later extended their lead to seven, 36-29, after a lay up by junior Eulis Stephens (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) at the 16:50 mark. 

An 11-4 Milwaukee (4-4, 1-0 HL) spurt tied the game again at 40-40, but two straight baskets by junior Xavier Keeling (Huntsville, AL/J.O. Johnson), once again gave UDM the lead, 44-41 with 11:47 left. The Panthers then scored on back-to-back possessions to go up by one, but a lay up by junior Michael Harrington (Country Club Hills, IL/Rich Central) put the Titans back in front, 46-45, with 10 minutes to go.

That would be the last lead UDM held as Milwaukee used an 8-0 run to take the lead, 53-46. The Titans were able to cut the deficit to five twice, the latest at 57-52 with 3:26 left, but the Panthers never gave in and pushed its lead to double digits late in the game. 

Three Titans finished in double figures led by Keeling's 19 points and nine rebounds. Junior Woody Payne (Inkster, MI/Ypsilanti) tied his career-high with 17, while freshman Donavan Foster (Chicago, IL/Curie) added 11. 

Detroit shot 42 percent for the game, but did not hit a three, finishing 0-for-11 from behind the arc. UDM did win the battle of the boards for the sixth time this season by a slim 39-38 margin. 

Milwaukee was led by Tone Boyle's 21 points, while Anthony Hill added 16. 

The Panthers raced out to an early eight-point advantage, 10-2, three minutes into the contest, but UDM responded with an 11-1 run to take a 13-11 lead midway through the first. The lead changed hands six times with three ties as both squads went into the locker room tied at 27-27. 

Detroit will now head to Green Bay as part of its Wisconsin road trip. The Titans and Phoenix are set to tip-off at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.