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NEW ORLEANS -- Four Titans scored in double figures and Detroit nearly wiped out a 17-point deficit, but a second-half rally just came up short as UDM was downed by Tulane, 63-55, in the final game of the Big Easy Classic on Sunday at Fogelman Arena.

Sophomore Yar Shayok (Ottawa, ON/Hillcrest) was the top Titan scorer with 13 points, while adding seven rebounds and tying a career-high with four blocks. Junior Talicia Washington (Auburn Hills, MI/Avondale) put together her second-straight double-double with 11 points and a game and career-high 16 boards.

Sophomore Dominique Dixon (Detroit, MI/Renaissance) tied her career best with 11 markers, while junior Lauren Allen (Rochester Hills, MI/Rochester) had her usual solid all-around game with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Junior Jalesa Jones (Detroit, MI/Pershing) also had a good day ending with seven points, five rebounds and four assists.

Detroit (3-4) saw Tulane (7-1) extend its first-half advantage to 17 twice in the second period, the latest at 47-30 with 13:34 left in the game.

From there, the Titans pulled together and outscored the Green Wave, 23-8, over the next 10 minutes to climb all the way back to a one-possession game, 55-53.

UDM started the spurt with a basket by Shayok and then free throws by freshman Megan Hatter (Howell, MI/Howell) and Dixon followed. Dixon then stole the ball and went in for a layup as UDM cut it to 11, 47-36.

After a Tulane bucket, Detroit continued to chip away as Shayok and Jones netted back-to-back baskets and, after Shayok came up with a block on defense, Washington pulled down an offensive board and went back up for a layup to get the red, white and blue within seven, 49-42, at the 7:55 mark.

Tulane would later open another double-digit lead, 53-43, but the Titans once again fought back going on a 10-2 charge. Dixon started the comeback with a trey and, after a Green Wave field goal, Jones got to the rim on two-straight possessions and the Titans trailed by just five, 55-50.

Both teams then turned the ball over, but UDM's defense came up with another stop setting up a 3-pointer by Allen, and the one-time 17-point deficit was just down to just two, 55-53, with 3:23 to go.

It looked as though Detroit's defense was going to get another crucial stop as a Tulane shot rimmed out, but the home team was able to corral the board setting up a basket which started an 8-2 run that ended the contest.

Detroit won the battle of the boards for the second day in a row at the Big Easy Classic with a 52-44 margin and the defensive effort held Tulane to 32% shooting in the game, including 24% in the first half.

It was a tight affair early on as both teams traded baskets before Detroit jumped out to a three-point lead, 9-6. Tulane then went on a 10-0 run to go out in front by seven, but a three by Allen and a layup by Washington got Detroit within two, 16-14, with nine minutes left in the first. Another 10-0 run by the Green Wave ensued and the home team took a 29-21 lead into the half. 

Detroit will head back to the Midwest where the Titans will make another road trip, this time a short one, to Ypsilanti as UDM faces in-state rival Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m., at the Convocation Center.

Game Notes:
It was the first time this season Detroit had four players in double figures in scoring…It was the fourth time in the last five games that Jones has recorded five or more rebounds…Both teams had their starters do most of the work as UDM's bench accounted for three points and Tulane's had four…Dixon netted 11 points twice as a freshman at West Virginia in 2008-09…Detroit had a +25 rebounding margin in the two-day tournament pulling down 100 rebounds against Saint Joseph's and Tulane.