Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. (2/7/14) – Juwan Howard Jr. hit a three-pointer with 5.7 seconds left in regulation to lift the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team by Valparaiso 59-57 Friday night on ESPNU at the ARC. The win was the third-straight for Detroit over Valpo on its home court.

Valparaiso (14-11, 6-4 HL) took the lead 57-56 after Alec Peters rolled in a layup with 36 left in regulation. Detroit then burned some time and used its final two timeouts before Howard was left all alone on an inbounds pass and drained a three-pointer from dead center to put the Titans up for good. Valpo did get the last shot from half court as time expired but it was no good.

Howard finished with 19 points, while senior Evan Bruinsma tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Southfield natives Carlton Brundidge and Patrick Onwenu combined for 15 points, nine rebounds, five steals and four blocked shots off the bench.

Detroit (11-14, 4-6 HL) led at the half 29-28 and was able to extend that lead to five on three occasions including 43-38 after Bruinsma and Howard combined to make four three-pointers, including Howards second of the game with 10:13 left. The Crusaders then battled back to take a 55-53 lead after a pair of free throws from LaVonte Dority with 3:42 left. Howard tied the game with a layup and Onwenu gave Detroit the lead with a free throw, before Peters gave the lead back to Valpo with 36 ticks remaining.

The Crusaders opened the game with an early 8-5 lead before a pair of free throws from Onwenu and a three-pointer from Brundidge gave Detroit a 10-8 lead with 11:43 left. Valpo answered back with an 8-2 run to build its largest lead of the game 16-12 with 8:32 left. But the Titans closed the half with a 17-12 run, including a free throw from freshman Jarod Williams with one second left to give Detroit a 29-28 lead at intermission. Howard and Brundidge led Detroit with eight points apiece in the opening stanza.

Detroit shot 38 percent (19-of-50) overall, but made 50 percent (10-20) from downtown, while Valpo finished shooting 40 percent (19-of-47) overall, including 27 percent (5-18) from beyond the arc. The Titans won the battle on the boards 37-30 and forced 15 turnovers with six steals and six blocked shots, while dishing out 12 assists.

There were eight ties and 27 lead changes in the game with the final one being Howard's three-pointer in the closing seconds.

Peters led Valpo with 16 points, while Dority added 13 points and four assists.

Detroit will host Youngstown State on Sunday at historic Calihan Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and will be televised locally on Comcast 900. The game can also be seen online through HLN Detroit with Dan York making the call.