Box Score

Senior Thomas Kennedy (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) notched his second career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, but it was not enough as Detroit's second-half comeback fell short with the Titans dropping a 60-56 decision to UIC on Thursday afternoon. 

The 10 boards also tied a career high for Kennedy. Two other Titans reached double figures on the day as sophomore Chase Simon (Detroit, MI/Community) led the team with 14 points and sophomore Donavan Foster (Chicago, IL/Curie) netted 10. 

The Titans (9-5, 2-1 HL) nearly erased a seven-point deficit with under five minutes to go, but junior Xavier Keeling's (Huntsville, AL/J.O. Johnson) game-tying layup with 4.4 seconds left was blocked. He was able to get the ball back but was stuck in the corner of the court and would end up turning it over. UIC's Robo Kreps, who had a game-high 31 points, then hit two free throws to end the contest. 

Detroit was behind the entire game, by as many as 11 at one point, but fought back to make it a one possession contest on four occasions. Down by 10, 33-23, early in the second half, the Titans scored eight straight to cut it to two. 

After UIC (5-8, 1-2 HL) built its lead back to six, 41-35, a bucket by Simon and two Keeling free throws once again made it a two-point game. The Flames then went on a 7-1 run to extend the lead to eight. 

Down by seven with 4:44 to go, Keeling was able to get inside the paint for a basket and, after he came up with a steal, Kennedy finished it off with a score and Detroit trailed by three. UIC pushed it back to six, but a trey by Foster cut that in half. 

With 50 seconds left, Simon split a pair from the free throw line to put the score at 58-56. UIC then called a timeout to set up a play, but the Titan defense forced the Flames into a turnover as the shot clock expired. Detroit started its final possession with 13.4 left in the game. 

UDM held UIC to just 28% shooting and 17% from three-point range. Detroit was at 41% for the game, including 50% in the second half. The difference was the Flames hitting 25-of-31 at the line, while Detroit was 9-of-14. 

The red, white and blue returns to action on Saturday as the Titans take on Loyola at 4:00 p.m. (EST).