KINGSTON, R.I. (12/20/14) – Senior forward Juwan Howard Jr. scored a team-high 17 points, but it wasn't enough as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team dropped it third-straight game 69-55 against Rhode Island on Saturday at the Ryan Center.
 
The Titans (6-6) led at halftime 36-34, but a second half surge from Rhode Island (7-3) served to be to much to overcome as Detroit dropped it second game of its eight day road trip covering more than 7,000 miles.

Howard finished with 17 points – 13 in the first half – seven rebounds and three steals, while freshman Paris Bass added nine points to go along with a team-high eight rebounds. Junior guard Carlton Brundidge pitched in eight points, while sophomore Chris Jenkins scored a season-high seven. 
 
Rhode Island scored the first six points of the game, before Howard poured in his first five points, including a 3-pointer from the right corner, to make the score 8-5 heading into the first media timeout. The Rams would stretch their lead back to six, 14-8, with 13 minutes left, before Detroit used a 12-6 run, capped off by back-to-back layups from Anton Wilson to tie the score at 20. Rhode Island would retake the lead 23-20 with 8:04 remaining before the Titans put together a 12-3 run to take the lead 32-26 at the under four minute media timeout. But the Rams were able to close the half with an 8-4 run, including four-straight points from E.C. Matthews to trim Detroit's lead to 36-34 during intermission. Howard led all scorers in the first half with 13 points, while Jenkins and Wilson had six apiece.
 
Detroit was able to stretch its lead to four, 40-36, to begin the second half, before Rhode Island used an 11-0 run to take the a lead it would it would not relinquish. A layup from Bass trimmed the lead to five, 47-42, with 15:07 left, but that was as close as the score would get as the Rams closed the game with a 22-13 run, including a stretch of eight-straight free throws to secure the win.
 
Rhode Island only made eight baskets in the second half, but connected on 17-of-21 free throw attempts. For the game the Rams finished 26-of-34 from the charity stripe.
 
Detroit, which shot 50 percent (13-of-26) in the first half, finished the game shooting 35.2 percent (19-of-54) overall, while holding Rhode Island to 37.3 percent (19-of-51) overall, just 30 percent (8-of-26) in the second half. Detroit also won the battle of the boards 37-36 and forced 13 turnovers, including eight steals.
 
Detroit will conclude its eight day road trip covering more than 7,000 miles when the Titans visit Arizona State on Tuesday, Dec. 23. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. ET at Wells Fargo Arena and will be televised live on the PAC-12 Network. The can also be heard on AM 1270 with the voice of the Titans Dan Leach.