DAYTON, Ohio (1/2/15) – Sophomore Chris Jenkins recorded a new career-high with 14 points in his Horizon League debut, but it wasn't enough as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team dropped its league opener, 70-57, to Wright State Friday night at the Nutter Center. The loss was the Titans sixth-straight dating back to Dec. 13, 2014.
 
Detroit (6-9, 0-1 HL) led 35-34 with 16:13 left in regulation, before the Raiders put together a 21-5 run to build their largest lead of the game 55-40 with 10 minutes left. The Titans would respond with a 7-0 run to trim the lead to eight, 55-47, with 7:24 remaining, but that was as close as the score would get as Wright State closed the game with a 15-10 run to earn it first win of league play.

Jenkins finished with 14 points and six rebounds, while senior forward Juwan Howard Jr. scored a t team-high 15 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists. Sophomore guard Jarod Williams pitched in nine points, while Brandan Kearney added six.

Wright State (9-6, 1-0 HL) took an early 4-2 lead into the first media timeout, before the Titans opened an 11-0 run capped off by back-to-back 3-pointers from Howard to take a 13-4 lead with 12:36 left. The Raiders would answer back with a 7-2 run to trim the lead to 15-11 with nine minutes left, before Williams made a 3-pointer to put the Titans back up seven 18-11 with 8:25 remaining. Wright State would answer back with a 6-0 run to make it a one point game, before Williams made four-straight free throws to give Detroit a 22-17 lead with five minutes left. But the Raiders would close the half with a 9-2 run to take a 26-24 lead into the locker room.
 
Williams led Detroit with seven points in the first half, while Howard and Jenkins and six apiece.
 
The Titans started off hitting five of their first 10 shots, but finished making just 7-of-24 in the first half.
 
For the game Detroit shot 34.5 percent (19-of-55), while Wright State shot 50 percent (29-of-58). Both teams finished with 35 rebounds.
 
Detroit will continue league play when the Titans host Milwaukee the reigning Horizon League Tournament Champions on Sunday, Jan. 4. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at historic Calihan Hall and will be televised nationally on the American Sports Network. The game can also be heard on 97.1 The Ticket with the voice of the Titans Dan Leach.