Box score (.pdf)
Box score (.html)

MILWAUKEE, Wis.--  Behind Brandon Wood's game-high 30 points and a team 15-of-27 effort from three-point range, the fourth-seeded Valparaiso Crusaders downed the fifth-seeded Detroit Titans, 88-78 in the quarterfinal round of the Horizon League tournament Friday night at U.S. Cellular Arena.  Valpo (23-10) will advance to play host and top-seed Milwaukee in the semifinals Saturday night.

Detroit (17-16) had five players in double figures scoring, led by 22 from junior Nick Minnerath.  Junior Eli Holman recorded his 13th double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. 

Valparaiso had an early 8-3 advantage, but it was the Titans that controlled the game for most of the opening half.  After that point, the Titans would hold the Crusaders scoreless from the floor for the next 4:42, running-off 14 of the next 15 points to take a 17-9 lead and the momentum. 

VU would battle back, shooting well from the outside to chip away at the lead.  The Crusaders knocked-down 6-of-13 three-point shots in the opening stanza to eventually regain the lead and take a 40-37 advantage into the locker room.

In its opening round win over Loyola Tuesday, Detroit used a balanced attack with six players in double figures. It was nearly that same recipe Friday as the Titans had five players with at least 10 points and a sixth with seven points but it was Valpo's HL Championship-record 15 threes that proved to be Detroit's undoing.

After Valpo's 13th triple of the game opened a five-point lead, McCallum got a tip-in on the next possession and then had an emphatic block on the other end to seemingly spark a Detroit rally.  It would not be enough, however, as Wood answered with a triple to start a nine-point run by Valpo that sealed the win.

Jason Calliste had 14 points, Chris Blake had 11 and McCallum added 10 for Detroit.