VALPARAISO, Ind. (2/4/2015) – Three Titans scored in double-figures, but it wasn't enough as Valparaiso was able to make free throws down the stretch to hold on to a 78-70 win over the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team.
 
Senior forward Juwan Howard Jr. led Detroit (11-14, 4-6 HL) with 19 points, while freshman sensation Paris Bass scored 14 and sophomore Chris Jenkins added 13.
 
After trailing at halftime 31-25, Detroit was able to take the lead 41-37 with 14:27 left, before Valparaiso (21-4, 8-2 HL) used an 11-0 run to regain the lead, one it would not relinquish, 48-41 with 11 minutes remaining.
 
Detroit opened the game with a 5-2 run – all five points from Bass – and held an 8-6 lead after 3-pointer from junior Anton Wilson, before the Crusaders put together a 7-0 run to take a 13-8 lead with 12 minutes left in the opening stanza. Another Titans 3-pointer, this one from senior Brandan Kearney brought Detroit within two, before Valpo extended its lead to seven, 20-13 with nine minutes remaining.
 
Howard then made a pair of trifecta's to close the gap to one, 20-19, but that was as close as the score would get, as the Crusaders would build a nine point lead 31-22 with a minute remaining. Howard would then make his third long ball of the half – this one from 26 feet away – to make the score 31-25 during intermission.
 
Howard led Detroit with nine points in the first half, while Wilson had six and Bass five.
 
The Titans started the second half with a 16-7 run to build their largest lead of the game 41-37, until Valpo answered back with an 11-0 run to regain the lead. Both teams would exchange baskets for the next seven minutes as Valpo led 64-58, but made some key baskets and free throws down the stretch to hold off the Titans 78-70.
 
Detroit finished shooting 38 percent (22-of-58) overall and 43 percent (10-of-23) from deep, while Valpo made 56 percent (26-of-46) overall and 6-of-15 from downtown. The Crusaders won the battle on the boards 33-32 and made 20-of-31 free attempts.
 
Detroit will return to the Motor City to host UIC on Sunday, Feb. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET at historic Calihan Hall and will be televised nationally on ESPN3 with Dan Leach and Bernie Fuhs making the call.