DETROIT (12/12/2015) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team ran its winning streak to three in a row as the high-powered Titans soared past the Bowling Green Falcons, 95-80, on Saturday on Dick Vitale Court in Calihan Hall.
Sophomore
Paris Bass had a team-high 25 points and eight rebounds in his return to the court. Senior
Anton Wilson posted 17 points, hitting five 3-pointers, and sophomore
Jaleel Hogan tallied 14 points and a team-best 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.
The Titans (5-3) ended up shooting 47.1 percent (32-of-68) from the field, including 13 from triple range. They also outrebounded BGSU (7-3), 41-37, with 14 offensive rebounds in the process.
Detroit was up by 17, 59-42, with 14:33 left when the Falcons – who came into the game winners of six in a row – exploded for a 21-6 run to trim the Titans' advantage to 65-63 with 8:35 left in the contest. Bass snapped the run by calmly drilling a pair of 3-pointers from the top of the circle, electrifying the crowd at Calihan Hall and pushing Detroit's lead back up to eight, 71-63.
Both sides fought though as they traded 3-pointers down the stretch, responding to each made basket with a bigger and more important shot of their own. Detroit got the best of the Falcons as the Titans pushed their lead back to double digits on a pair of treys from senior
Carlton Brundidge – who ended with 12 points - before a no-look pass from Bass was hammered home by Hogan, putting Detroit up 89-77 with 2:45 remaining.
The Titans sealed the win in the remaining minutes with Hogan going 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Junior
Chris Jenkins finished with six points, seven rebounds and three assists. Hogan also had two assists and two blocks and junior
Jarod Williams handed out a team-high four assists. Freshman
Gerald Blackshear had seven points and junior
Matthew Grant hit a pair of 3-pointers.
Trailing 7-6 early in the first half, the Titan offense took off with a 22-4 run to go up 28-11 with 10:05 remaining. During the spurt, the Titans dominated the glass with a 15-7 edge in rebounds and shot an unconscious 6-of-9 from 3-point range.
As Detroit cooled from long distance, the Falcons charged back into the game with a 10-0 run to climb within seven at 28-21 with 7:39 remaining. Freshman
Josh McFolley halted the Bowling Green charge with a steal and bucket, before a Bass jumper and gliding layup put Detroit back up 34-23 at the 5:03 mark.
The Falcons battled their way back within eight just before half, but a three-point bomb from Wilson sent the Titans into the break on a 9-4 run and a 47-34 lead over the visitors.
Behind a precise 4-for-4 mark from deep, Wilson had 14 points, while Bass finished the half with 10 points and five boards. As a team, Detroit shot a red-hot 8-for-16 from behind the arc and held Bowling Green to a frigid 1-of-8 from deep. The Falcons stayed within striking distance with 15 points from Spencer Parker and the benefit of 16 attempts and 11 makes at the charity stripe.
Wilson's first trey in the second half, his fifth of the game, sparked a 6-0 run that gave Detroit its biggest lead of the game at 55-37 just 2:38 into the second half. That was when BGSU started to mount its comeback attempt.
The Titans will be busy hitting the books this week for finals as the red, white and blue return to action next Saturday, Dec. 19, when they host Central Florida. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m., on Dick Vitale Court in Calihan Hall.
For tickets, call 313-993-1700 or visit
detroittitans.com/tix.
Game Notes:Detroit now leads the overall series, 24-17… The Titans ended a four-game side to BGSU… UDM has won eight in a row at home dating back to last season… The Titans are now 81-19 in their last 100 home games against non-conference opponents… Detroit is 178-107 all-time against current members of the MAC… Detroit has scored 75 or more points six times this year and is averaging 85.2 points per game on the season… UDM had four players in double figures for the fifth time this season… The Titans recorded double-digit assists for the sixth time with today's 16 helpers the second most on the year behind the 22 against UM-Dearborn… Bass missed the first seven games as he was serving a suspension for violation of team rules… Bass' career high is 28 at Oakland last year… Brundidge was in double figures in scoring for the fifth time this year… Detroit led by 13 at the break, 47-34, and had nine of 10 Titans net points except their leading scorer
Chris Jenkins… The Titans played with a " TR" patch on their jersey and will do so for the remainder of the year in honor of the late Reggie Hall (Titan Reggie), a baseball alum and one of the program's most well-known fan who passed away this week…
