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DETROIT (1/11/14) – The Oakland Golden Grizzlies used a late run and were able to hold off the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team Saturday night for a 77-69 win in front of the third largest crowd in Calihan Hall since the 1999-00 season. The Titans had three players score in double figures led by 15 from Juwan Howard, Jr.

Detroit (8-10, 1-2 HL) held a 59-47 lead with 8:15 remaining in regulation before the Grizzlies closed the game with a 30-10 run. The score was tied 68-68, before Travis Bader made a three-pointer with 1:28 left to give Oakland its first lead since the score was 21-20 with 6:13 left in the first half.

Freshman guard Matthew Grant split a pair of free throws after being fouled on the Titans next possession, to make the score 71-69 with 21 seconds left, before Oakland made free throws down the stretch.

Howard finished the night with 15 points, four rebounds and four assists, while co-captain Evan Bruinsma recorded 14 points with six boards, two blocked shots and two steals. Grant pitched in 12 points, while classmate Jarod Williams finished with six points and three assists.

Oakland (7-12, 2-2 HL) opened the game with an early 15-9 lead, before the Titans responded with a 9-2 run to take a 18-17 lead with 8:45 left in the first half. Both teams then exchanged baskets for the next couple of minutes, before the Titans closed the half with a 12-4 run to take a 33-25 lead into the locker room.

Detroit scored the first two points of the second half to go up 35-25, before Oakland answered back with an 11-4 run to trim the lead to 39-36 with 15:24 remaining. But Detroit was able to fend off the Grizzlies with a  20-11 run to build its largest lead of the game 59-47, before Oakland made the final run in game that had six ties and 13 lead changes.

Detroit shot 50.9 percent (29-of-57) overall, while Oakland finished shooting 41.7 percent (25-of-60). The Titans also dished out 19 assists, while recording six blocked shots and forcing six steals, but lost the battle on the boards 40-29, including 13-6 on the offensive glass.

Corey Petros led Oakland with a game-high 23 points and 13 rebounds, while Duke Mondy pitched in 18 and Bader added 14.

Detroit will continue Horizon League play when the Titans host Valparaiso on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Calihan Hall and will be live on 1270 AM with Dan Leach the voice of Titan Basketball.

GAME NOTES: Detroit leads the all-time series against Oakland 11-2 … The attendance of 6,976 is the largest at Calihan Hall since having 7,127 against Milwaukee on Feb. 23, 2002 … Evan Bruinsma has scored in double figures 12 times this season, including the last four games … Juwan Howard, Jr. has scored in double figures 16 time this season ... The last time Detroit had an 8-10 record was during the 2011-12 season, the same year the Titans won the Horizon League and advanced to the NCAA Tournament with a 22-14 record.