Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. (11/8/13) – The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team tipped off its 107th season with a 74-58 loss to South Alabama on Friday night at the Mitchell Center. Junior forward Juwan Howard, Jr. led the Titans with a game-high 18 points to go along with 11 rebounds, while sophomore guard Carlton Brundidge added 14 points and eight boards.

Senior forward Evan Bruinsma and freshman guard Jarod Williams also scored in double figures as both finished with 11 points, while Ugochukwu Njoku grabbed nine rebounds. Bruinsma was also busy on the boards as he finished with eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

South Alabama opened the game with a 12-5 run in the first four minutes of action, before the Titans responded with a 5-0 run to trim the lead to 12-10 with 14:25 left in the first half. Howard scored eight of the Titans first 10 points. Both teams then exchanged baskets as the Jaguars held a 16-14 lead with just under 12 minutes remaining, before South Alabama went on a 14-3 run to build a 30-17 lead. Detroit would trim the lead to nine, 35-26, with five minutes left, but the Jaguars closed the half with a 10-5 run to take a 45-31 lead into the locker room. Bruinsma had nine points and seven rebounds in the first half to lead the Titans, while Howard had eight points and three boards.

The Jaguars opened the second half with five quick points to expand their lead to 19, 50-31, before Howard scored eight straight points, including the Titans only three-pointer of the night, to trim the lead to 50-39 with 15:22 remaining in regulation. But that was as close as the score would get as South Alabama responded with a 16-5 run to build its largest lead of the game 66-44 with 6:30 left. The Titans closed the game with a 14-8 run but it wasn't enough as the Jaguars won their home opener.

Detroit was held to 28.9 percent (22-of-76) shooting overall, including just 7.1 percent (1-of-14) from downtown, while South Alabama shot 36.4 percent (24-of-66) overall, including 34.6 percent (9-of-26) from beyond the arc. The Titans grabbed 51 rebounds and forced 15 Jaguar turnovers, but only dished out five assists on the night while turning the ball over 12 times.

Detroit will host U-M Dearborn on Monday (Nov. 11) for its 2013-14 home opener at Calihan Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Dick Vitale Court and will be streamed live on HLN Detroit.

GAME NOTES: The 51 rebounds were the most in game for the Titans since grabbing 50 against Concordia on Nov. 18, 2011 … Jarod Williams became the first true freshman to score in double figures during his first career game in the coach McCallum era … The seven blocked shots were also the most for the Titans since swatting eight against Toledo on Dec. 5, 2012 … Juwan Howard, Jr.'s double-double was the first for a Titan in a season opener since Eli Holman recorded 15 points and 13 rebounds at New Mexico in 2010.