Photo Gallery
Postgame Interviews vs. Milwaukee

DETROIT (1/4/2015) -- Juwan Howard Jr. led the way with 26 points – 20 in the second half - as the University of Detroit Mercy used a big run in the first half to open a lead it would never give back in defeating defending Horizon League champion Milwaukee, 83-67, on Sunday afternoon inside historic Calihan Hall. The win ended UDM's six-game slide as it moved to 7-9 overall and 1-1 in the Horizon League. 
 
Howard Jr. also had five rebounds and a team and game-high six assists.  Anton Wilson netted 12 points with five rebounds and three assists, while Paris Bass added 14 points and four boards.
 
It was a slow start offensively for both teams as Detroit was 1-of-7 from the field, while Milwaukee (5-11, 0-2 HL) was 1-of-3 with a few turnovers. Both teams would go back and forth, but the Titans – after five lead changes – jumped out in front, 12-11, midway through the period off a layup from Brandan Kearney. Jaleel Hogan then hit a jumper and was fouled finishing it off with a free throw for a 15-11 lead with 9:20 left in the first.
 
Milwaukee would knot it at 15-all, but Detroit then scored 13-straight points for a 28-15 advantage at the 4:32 mark. Five Titans scored during that spurt which started off a Bass basket. Howard Jr. added two buckets, Wilson and Carlton Brundidge had baskets, while Chris Jenkins drained a three. Defensively, UDM held the Panthers to 0-of-5 shooting with two turnovers in that stretch.
 
Jenkins would hit another three later on and the Titans would take a 37-27 lead at the break.
 
Detroit shot 53.1 percent in the first half (17-of-32) compared to Milwaukee's 40.0 percent, but the Titans forced eight turnovers that they turned into 10 points.
 
It was more of the same in the second half as the red, white and blue used an 8-0 run to open its largest lead of the game, 47-29, with 15:58 left.  Howard Jr. started that with the old fashioned three-point play and Brundidge finished it with a layup off a strong rebound and pass from Bass.
 
Milwaukee would cut it to 10, 54-44, but Howard Jr. was just too much as he hit an off balanced jumper and then the next time down the court, he floated a pass to the rim that Bass caught and slammed down igniting the Titan crowd and giving the home squad a 58-44 advantage with 9:49 remaining. Detroit later extended it to 15, 66-51, off a Wilson three and he would connect for another to push it to 16, 71-55, with just over five minutes left as the Titans cruised the rest of the way for the 17-point triumph.

UDM ended the game shooting 51.5 percent (34-of-66) with 18 assists on its 34 baskets, while outrebounding the Panthers, 38-23. Detroit also had a 13-1 advantage in second chance points and a great showing by the bench outscoring Milwaukee's, 32-10.
 
Detroit will have a week off as it gets ready for its first Metro Series rivalry game against Oakland on Saturday, Jan. 10. Tip time is set for 3:00 p.m., on Dick Vitale Court in Calihan Hall and fans can purchase their tickets online by clicking here.