Box Score

Titan Senior Day Photo Gallery

Post-Game Press Conference On Titan YouTube

The Titans honored four seniors the best way they could with a win at home on Senior Day as Detroit took a lead in the first half and never looked back, coming away with a 68-66 victory over in-state rival Eastern Michigan on Saturday. 

The win moved Detroit to 16-13 on the season and also improved its all-time record against its friends from Ypsilanti to 57-15, which now includes eight straight wins over the Eagles (14-13). 

The red, white and blue shot 46 percent for the game, including 55 percent in the second half. The Titans also hit 17-of-22 free throws and forced 15 turnovers. 

"I thought our ability to pressure them and deny them on defense disrupted them a bit and helped us to get off to a good start,” said head coach Ray McCallum. “I'm happy for our seniors. We talk often about closing out games and we made enough free throws and did enough to close out the win.” 

Senior Woody Payne (Inkster, MI/Ypsilanti) led the way with his first career double-double with a season-high 13 points and 10 assists. 

“Woody played like a warrior,” said McCallum. “He had the mentality to close it out. Woody made some big plays and that's what seniors do. He led our team to victory. I'm happy for him and I'm proud of our seniors." 

Sophomore Eli Holman (Richmond, CA/Richmond) posted 14 points to go with seven rebounds and five blocks. Senior Thomas Kennedy (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) scored a team-high 15 points and sophomore Chase Simon (Detroit, MI/Community) tallied 10 markers. 

The game was tied at 17  in the first half at the 8:15 mark when the Titans stormed in front with a 17-5 run. Junior Xavier Keeling (Huntsville, AL/J.O. Johnson) started the offensive barrage with a three. The Titans then hit eight straight free throws during the spurt and Holman, senior Eugene Blue (Flint, MI/Northern) and junior Curtis Eatmon (Rancho Cucamonga, CA /Los Osos) netted the other baskets. During that time, the defense forced five Eagle miscues. 

Detroit closed out the first half strong taking a nine-point lead, 36-27, into the locker room. 

It was more of the same in the second as Detroit maintained its lead early, fighting off a few EMU charges before pushing its advantage back to double digits, 50-40, with 12:08 to go. 

From there, the Titans saw EMU get within striking distance a few times, but Detroit always had an answer either inside with Holman or at the free throw line to secure the victory.

Prior to the contest, Detroit paid tribute to its four senior student-athletes in Payne, Blue, Kennedy and Eulis Stephens (Detroit, MI/Southeastern) as well as senior manager Vince Carr and graduate manager Mike Faletti. 

Detroit will now hit the road for two critical league games to end the regular season, starting with a trip to Cleveland State on Thursday. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. UDM will then end the season next Saturday at Youngstown State. 

The Titans are still alive for a home playoff game in the Horizon League Tournament and can rise to as high as a five seed.