Box Score

The Titan men's basketball team forced 22 Robert Morris turnovers as Detroit opened the subregional of the 2K Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs. Cancer with a 71-59 victory over the Colonials on Friday evening in Albany, NY.

Detroit (2-1) held RMU, which made the NCAA Tournament last season by winning the Northeast Conference, to just 37% from the field, including 4-of-14 from behind the three-point line.

Offensively, UDM had three players in double figures for the third straight game, this time ending with four players tallying double digits. Senior Thomas Kennedy (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) led the way with a game-high 19 points along with five rebounds and four steals. Sophomore Eli Holman (Richmond, CA/Richmond) added 14 points and eight boards, while junior Xavier Keeling (Huntsville, AL/J.O. Johnson) had 13. Sophomore Chase Simon (Detroit, MI/Community) netted 12 points and handed out a career-high seven assists.

The Titans were ahead for much of the game, but leading by 11, 46-35, with 16 minutes to go, RMU went on an 11-3 run over the next seven minutes to trim the Titan advantage to just three, 49-46.

Detroit regained the momentum the next time down the floor as a jumper by Kennedy and then an old fashioned three-point play by senior Woody Payne (Inkster, MI/Ypsilanti) put UDM back up by 8, 56-48, as the senior captain drove to the basket hitting a layup, while being fouled. From there, the red, white and blue made 11-of-14 free throws in the final six minutes to earn the victory.

Detroit shot 40% for the game and 78% from the charity stripe, hitting 25-of-32 on the night. Robert Morris (0-3) was led by Ron Robinson's 14 points, while Jimmy Langhurst chipped in with 10.

The game was physical right from the start, but Detroit did lead for much of the first half. With the game tied at 21, UDM went on a 6-0 run to give the Titans a lead that they would never give back. Holman started the spurt with a short jumper followed by a Kennedy layup and Keeling coming away with a steal and a dunk. RMU cut the advantage to two, 28-26, but the Titans would end the half on a 11-5 tally to take an eight-point, 39-31, into the break

Detroit will continue play in the subregional tomorrow as the Titans battle host Albany at 7 p.m.