Box Score

Press Conference on Titan YouTube Channel

Junior Xavier Keeling's (Huntsville, AL/J.O. Johnson) career-high 24 points and a suffocating Titan defense help lead the way for Detroit as UDM opened conference play with a weekend sweep defeating Cleveland State, 69-62, on Saturday in a televised game on FOX Sports Detroit. 

“The start was tremendous, as good a start to a game as I've been around,” said head coach Ray McCallum. “Our guys had great focus. It showed. With Xavier's ability to shoot three's, he was looking for it. He shot with a lot of confidence and got it going. The guys have taken it personal with Eli (Holman) out these two games and everyone has made a difference.”

With the win Detroit moved to 6-2, its best start since going 7-2 to open the 1998-99 campaign as well as just one win away from its win total a year ago. The Titans' 2-0 mark in the league also equaled their victory total from last season. UDM also ended a five-game losing streak to the defending Horizon League champions. 

The Titans forced 21 Cleveland State (3-6, 0-2 HL) turnovers, 11 of those UDM steals, and held the Vikings to 22 percent shooting in the first half. 

Keeling also added a career-best four steals with three rebounds and two assists. Senior Thomas Kennedy (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) netted 18 points and six boards, while sophomore Chase Simon (Detroit, MI/Community) had a game and career-high 11 rebounds. Senior Woody Payne (Inkster, MI/Ypsilanti) chipped in with 10 points, four assists and a game-high five steals, his 14th career game with four or more steals as he moved just one theft away from the top 10 in UDM history in that category. 

Detroit jumped out to a quick 12-0 lead, hitting five of its first six shots including two 3-pointers by Keeling. The Titan defense was also a catalyst forcing Cleveland State to miss its first nine shots from the field. UDM continued to pour it on, extending its advantage to 17, 23-6, just eight minutes into the contest, as Kennedy got on track hitting four straight shots 

As hot as the Titans started, UDM went through a bit of a drought, missing 18 of its next 24 field goal attempts, including a span of nearly nine minutes when they didn't score, but still went into the half with an 11-point lead, 26-15.

“Our defense held, even though the offense let up the last 10 or 11 minutes of the first half,” said McCallum. “We were able to hold. It's what we talk about, our defense and rebounding. We didn't let up.” 

UDM started the second half on a 7-2 spurt and never looked back building as high as a 20-point lead, 58-38, until a late CSU run got the Vikings within five very late in the game. 

“To have a goal to be on top of this league, you've got to defend your home court, you've got to win your home games and that was a goal this week,” added McCallum.

FOX Sports Detroit will re-air the game on Monday at 12 noon for those fans who missed the contest.

After opening conference play with two wins, Detroit will head back into non-conference action as the red, white and blue host Tennessee State on Tuesday in a rematch of last year's BracketBusters game.