Game Notes vs. Wright State

FOXSportsDetroit webcast

Horizon League Network webcast

Gametracker

Looking to defend their home court on Homecoming Weekend, the Detroit Titans will open up a three-game home stand with the Raiders of Wright State on Saturday. Game time is set for 2:05 p.m., with the contest televised live on FOX Sports Detroit. 

John Keating will have the play-by-play with former Titan standout and Hall of Famer Earl Cureton providing the analysis. The game is the third straight home contest on television and will be web streamed on the Horizon League Network and foxsportsdetroit.com. Fans can also catch all the action with a live stats feed through CSTV's gametracker. 

Detroit stands in third place in the Horizon League at 5-3 and is 12-7 overall following its near comeback victory at Green Bay. The Titans were down by as many as 13 in the second half and cut the deficit all the way to one with 26 seconds left before falling 74-72. Sophomore Chase Simon, the reigning HL Co-Player of the Week, leads the team in scoring at 13.8 ppg. As a team, UDM tops the conference in scoring at 71.1 ppg. 

Wright State comes into Calihan Hall at 11-8 and 4-4 in the HL. The Raiders have dropped two in a row and four of their last six, but just like the Titans, WSU has experienced some close losses with an overtime setback at Milwaukee (67-61), a two-point game at Green Bay (68-66) and a 53-52 decision at Loyola. Wright State relies on a three-guard attack with Vaughn Duggins leading the way at 13.8 ppg. Todd Brown is second on the team in scoring at 13.2, while Troy Tabler is tallying 10.6.

SIMON'S QUEST
Sophomore Chase Simon has been scorching teams on offense the last three games, scoring 20+ points in all three contests. He is the first Titan to reach that feat since Jon Goode did it four straight times in 2007-08. 

In his last game at Green Bay, Simon netted a team-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting with five rebounds and three assists. 

He started last week by posting his first career double-double with 33 points (15-24 FG), which included 22 in the second half and 16-straight at one point, and a career best 12 rebounds at Milwaukee.
That followed his then career mark of 23 points (8-17 FG) against Butler on Jan. 10. 

In the last three games, Simon is averaging 26.7 ppg., on 55 percent shooting (32-of-58), 43 percent from the outside (7-of-16), and 90 percent from the free throw line (9-of-10). He is also pulling down 7.7 rebounds per game.

DETROIT VS. WRIGHT STATE
Detroit has a slight edge in the overall series, 19-17, but Wright State has won seven in a row and eight of the last nine meetings. The last UDM triumph over WSU was on Feb. 8, 2006, 70-66 in Calihan Hall. 

The Titans are 10-6 all-time against the Raiders in the Motor City.

HIGH FIVE
Head coach Ray McCallum has used just three starting line ups this season, including the same five starters in the last 10 games. 
Below are the records for each of the starting units. 
Holman, Keeling, Kennedy, Simon, Payne 6-4
Blue, Keeling, Kennedy, Simon, Lee 2-1
Holman, Keeling, Kennedy, Simon, Lee 4-2

NO. 101 FOR PAYNE
Senior Woody Payne will be making his 101st career appearance in a Titan uniform against Wright State.

OFFENSE GETTING IT DONE
Detroit has shot over 50 percent from the field in its last two games and three of the last four contests. During that span, Detroit is posting 73 points per game, all against Horizon League schools.

THE AGONY OF DEFEAT
Five of the Titans' seven losses have been by a total of 11 points, with Detroit getting off a potential game-winning or tying shot in all of the games. Detroit has lost two games in overtime with a 68-66 decision at DePaul and a 64-62 setback against Butler. 

The Titans were also edged by Tennessee State, 70-69, fell at UIC, 60-56, and most recently, a 74-72 tilt at Green Bay.