Box Score

Post game press conference on Titan YouTube

HLN Video Highlights

Sophomore Chase Simon's 30 points led four Titans in double figures as the Detroit men's basketball team used another early second half run to blow past Loyola, 83-63, on Thursday night at Calihan Hall. The win moved UDM to 13-8 on the season and 6-4 in the Horizon League, while the Ramblers dropped to 12-8, 3-7 in the league. 

Simon (Detroit, MI/Community) posted his second 30-point game of the season and his fourth game in the last five scoring 20+ points. He also added five rebounds and three assists, shooting 10-of-20 on the night. In the last five games, he is averaging 25 points per contest. 

“I'm just playing the way I play and my teammates are doing a good job of finding me,” said Simon. “We all get our assists when we get the ball to the guys in scoring position. If they (opponents) get out on me, then I can get the ball inside to the big guys.” 

Sophomore Eli Holman (Richmond, CA/Richmond) recorded his seventh double-double of the year with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while blocking four shots moving his conference leading tally to 2.9 per game. 

Senior Thomas Kennedy (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) notched 14 points, while junior Xavier Keeling (Huntsville, AL/J.O. Johnson) had 13 markers, five boards and three helpers. Senior Woody Payne (Inkster, MI/Ypsilanti) ran the offense with six assists and no turnovers and grabbed five caroms. 

The Titans trailed by four, 39-35, just 30 seconds into the second half when Detroit caught fire, going on a 15-0 run to open a double-digit lead, 50-39. The defense got the team back in it forcing five miscues and holding the Ramblers scoreless for nearly five minutes. 

“The way we came out in the second half was the difference in the ball game,” said head coach Ray McCallum.

Detroit nearly saw that lead evaporate as LU went on a spurt of its own to get within one, 51-50, but UDM would never relinquished the advantage, answering that with another offensive explosion. Simon led the way with seven points and the red, white and blue put the game away with a 16-4 run to jump back on top, 67-55. 

Detroit would see its lead fall below 10 briefly, 69-61, but ended the contest scoring 14 of the game's last 16 points. 

UDM forced 16 Loyola turnovers and turned a 22-13 deficit in rebounding margin in the first half to a 40-37 edge on the glass in the game. The Titans also had a season-high 21 assists and a season-low six turnovers. 

“We put a big emphasis on taking care of the basketball in our practice sessions this week and we accomplished that,” noted McCallum. “We've had problems with turnovers and it's cost us. Look at where we could be if we had a few extra good possessions in some of those close games. We had 21 assists and six turnovers tonight, and that shows me we're getting it. It all came together tonight. It's a statement of how good we can be.” 

Detroit will end its three-game home stand on Saturday as the Titans take on UIC at 4:00 p.m. The contest will follow the women's tilt against Cleveland State at 1:30 p.m.