Box Score

Junior Thomas Kennedy (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) recorded his first career double-double scoring a team-high 17 points with a career-high 10 boards, but it was not enough as the Detroit Titans men's basketball team dropped a 60-51 decision to Wright State on Friday night. The game was featured as the Horizon League Game of the Week on ESPNU. 

“We played hard at the start, outrebounding them in the first half, but we had 11 turnovers,” said head coach Ray McCallum. “If it wasn't for the turnovers, we would have been up by six or seven points. That comes and goes with us. Then at the start of the second half, against one of the better defensive teams in the league, they got scores early and we didn't even get good shots. That took us out of our rhythm and they rode it the rest of the game. It's disappointing that we were never able to turn it back up.” 

With the loss, Detroit falls to 4-12 (0-7 HL), while Wright State improves to 10-8 (4-3 HL). Junior Eulis Stephens (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) added 12 points, while junior Woody Payne (Inkster, MI/Ypsilanti) tied a season-high with six assists. 

WSU was paced by junior John David Gardner who also poured in 17 points, while Todd Brown chipped in with 14 markers. Sophomore Scott Grote tallied 10 points helping WSU's bench outscore UDM by a 24-11 margin. 

The game was nip and tuck as both teams traded baskets over the first 10 minutes, with Wright State holding a slim 13-9 lead heading into the second media timeout. Play continued at the same pace by the 3:53 mark which ironically saw both teams shooting exactly 9-for-22 (40.9%) from the floor with WSU up by three, 23-20. Back-to-back jumpers by Kennedy pulled UDM within one, 25-24, heading into the locker room. 

WSU opened the second half on a 7-0 run to take a 30-24 lead at the 16:02 mark forcing head coach Ray McCallum to take a 30 second time out. Despite a free throw from Kennedy to end the run and a jumper from Stephens, the Titans could not cool off WSU as the Raiders extended their lead to as many as 16, 49-33, with eight minutes to go. 

However, Detroit was able to extend its defense and outscore WSU 14-7 to pull with nine, 56-47, with just a minute to go, but could not get any closer. 

Tonight's game was also a part of the Horizon League's Martin Luther King tradition in which UDM partnered with GESU Elementary School to sponsor a contest for fifth and sixth graders to submit a piece of art, an essay or musical performance focusing on the life of the late civil rights leader. Each winner received free tickets to the game and was honored on center court before tip-off. 

The Titans continue conference play at home as UIC invades Calihan Hall on Thursday, Jan. 22. Tip-off is set for 7:35 p.m., and is the second leg of a doubleheader with the UDM women's team taking on Cleveland State at 5:00 p.m.