Box Score
Box Score (PDF)

TEMPE, Ariz. (3/20/13) – The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team's season came to an end Wednesday night with an 83-68 loss to third-seeded Arizona State in the opening round of the NIT at Wells Fargo Arena.

The Sun Devils led 46-27 at the half, before the Titans trimmed the lead to nine, 55-46, with 13 minutes left. But that was as close as the score would get as Arizona State (22-12) answered back with a 25-15 run to build an 80-61 lead with two minutes remaining.

Junior guard Jason Calliste led Detroit (20-13) with 19 points, four assists and three steals, while classmate Ray McCallum pitched in 16 points with four steals. Senior forward Doug Anderson added 12 points with three rebounds and two steals, while classmate Nick Minnerath pitched in seven points with a team-high four boards. Freshman Anton Wilson was active off the bench with nine points, one assist and one steal.

The Titans opened the game with four-straight free throws from McCallum and Calliste, as the score was tied 4-4 through the first three minutes of action. The Sun Devils then went on a 14-0 run over the next four minutes to build an 18-4 lead, as the Titans missed their first 10 shots. After two more free throws from Anderson made the score 18-6 with 12 minutes left the Sun Devils put together a 27-14 run to build their largest lead of the game 45-20 with 2:45 left in the half. The Titans closed the half with a 7-1 run, including a layup at the buzzer from McCallum, to make the score 46-27.

Detroit opened the second half with a 9-0 run including three-straight buckets from Anderson and a triple from Minnerath to force ASU to call a time out with 46-36 lead. The Sun Devils would stretch their lead to 55-42 with 13:35 left, before the Titans cut the deficit to nine, 55-46, after a McCallum layup and an Anderson dunk, but that was as close as the score would get.

Jahii Carson led the Sun Devils with a game-high 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, while Carrick Felix scored 21 points with seven boards.

Detroit shot just 34.5 percent (20-of-58) overall, including 10 percent (2-of-20) from downtown, while ASU shot 55.1 percent (27-of-49) overall and 41.7 percent (5-of-12) from deep. The Titans did start the game by making 19-straight free throw attempts, including 15-of-15 in the first half, before finishing 26-of-27 from the charity stripe. Detroit also forced 24 Sun Devil turnovers and recorded 12 steals, but ASU dominated on the boards 41-21.

Detroit, which recorded its third 20-win season over the last four years, will lose two seniors from this years squad, but look forward to adding sophomore guard Carlton Brundidge to the rotation next year after sitting out this season after transferring from U-M.