Box Score

Post-game with Ray McCallum and Eli Holman

A 26-8 first half run propelled the UDM men's basketball team to a 73-69 victory over Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall. 

A balanced team effort gave the Titans (7-4) their seventh win of the season, matching their win total in each of the last two years. UDM also ended a two-game slide as well as a four-game losing streak to Bowling Green (5-4). 

“Our preparation helped us and we got off to a good start,” said head coach Ray McCallum. “That first half was as good as we've played. It was very encouraging for us, not just because our starters got it going, but because our bench made big contributions. Our bench was key in the first half. They let us have lots of possessions and get out and run and put points on the board.”

All 10 Titans that played scored in the contest with sophomore Chase Simon (Detroit, MI/Community) leading the way with a team-high 15 points. Sophomore Eli Holman (Richmond, CA/Richmond) posted his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while senior Thomas Kennedy (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) added 11 markers. 

Senior Eugene Blue (Flint, MI/Northern) had eight points and four rebounds. Junior Lamar Lee (Lafayette, IN/Jefferson) and sophomore Donavan Foster (Chicago, IL/Curie) chipped in with seven apiece, with Foster adding a team-high four assists. 

Detroit dominated the boards all day outrebounding the Falcons 38-27, while shooting 46% for the game. 

The Titans forced the action to their favor in the first half and had a 20-point lead, 45-25, just four minutes into the second period until a 20-4 Bowling Green spurt over the next seven minutes cut the Titan advantage to four, 49-45. 

“We came out on fire and maybe we relaxed a bit when we started looking at the scoreboard,” said McCallum. “We've got to step up our defense and stop penetration and make it even tougher on the other team... what do they call it? Put the pedal to the metal?” 

From there, UDM held together as a team and was able to thwart every attempt of a BGSU comeback. The Falcons were able to get within two on five occasions, but the Titans found a way to score on their end every time to secure the triumph. 

The beginning of the contest belonged to Detroit as the Titans turned a three-point deficit, 14-11, into a huge lead. The Titans began their ferocious offense attack with a three by Foster to tie the score at 14. That basket was just the beginning of 14 straight points by Detroit, which got to that point by forcing four BGSU turnovers, while the Falcons also missed both of their shot attempts. 

Senior Eulis Stephens (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) got inside for a layup and then Detroit hit the boards as a Blue tip-in followed on the next possession. Lee nailed a 3-pointer and a free throw by senior Woody Payne (Inkster, MI/Ypsilanti) and two more by Holman put UDM ahead by 12, 26-14, with 7:45 left in the half. 

Bowling Green got back within single digits at 28-19, but Detroit ran off nine of the next 11 points to take a 15-point advantage at the half, 37-22. 

The Titans held Bowling Green to just 38% from the field in the first half and outmuscled the Falcons with a 21-11 tally in rebounds. Meanwhile, Detroit hit 15-of-29 (51%) in the first stanza. 

Detroit will continue its three-game holiday home stretch on Tuesday as the Titans host in-state rival Central Michigan at 7:05 p.m.