DETROIT (1/29/2016) -- In a game that featured 19 lead changes and 15 ties, four Titans scored in double figures, but Northern Kentucky was hitting the three ball as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell, 91-83, on Friday night at Calihan Hall.

Prior to the game, the Titans retired the jersey of all-time great and NBA Hall Of Famer Spencer Haywood. Haywood is the sixth men's basketball player to have his jersey retired following Bob Calihan, Dave DeBusschere, John Long, Rashad Phillips and Terry Tyler. 

He played one season for the Titans, but it is generally considered one of the greatest single-seasons ever in Detroit basketball history as he still ranks first in scoring average (32.1), second in total points (771), rebounds (530) and free throws (195) and tied for second in total field goals (288). His school-record 32.1 points and 22.1 rebounds per game during the 1968-69 season was among the nation's best as he led the NCAA in rebounding and was fourth in scoring.

Sophomore Jaleel Hogan led Detroit with 17 points as he was 7-of-8 from the field with a team-high seven boards. Freshman Josh McFolley had 15 points, four rebounds and three assists. Senior Carlton Brundidge finished with 11 points, going 9-of-10 at the free-throw line, and junior Jarod Williams ended with 10 points. 

Detroit (9-11, 3-6 HL) shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the field and was 24-of-34 (70.6%) at the line.

UDM led by six early in the second half going on an 8-0 spurt. McFolley started the charge with a trifecta before Williams connected on two free throws. McFolley added another jumper and a free throw from Hogan made it 50-44 with 17:12 left.

The game would be tied six more times with nine lead changes in the next 10 minutes as Detroit and Northern Kentucky (8-12, 4-5 HL) could not shake each other loose. The largest lead either team had was five by Detroit, 55-50, while the Norse's largest advantage was two, 66-64, with 9:44 remaining.

The Titans took a three-point lead, 74-71, with seven minutes left as Brundidge hit two from the charity stripe and junior Chris Jenkins went to the rim for a layup. NKU came back to take the lead, 76-74, but Detroit would even things up at 76-all on a pair of free throws by Jenkins at the 5:41 mark.

From there, the Norse would seize the lead to earn the win.

Jenkins tallied seven points and five rebounds. Senior Anton Wilson had nine points, five rebounds and a career-high five blocks and sophomore Paris Bass added seven points and five caroms. 

The nip and tuck affair started right from the start as the teams traded the lead 10 times with seven ties in the first 20 minutes. Neither team had more than a four-point margin until back-to-back baskets by Hogan put the Titans in front by six, 34-28, with five minutes left.

Northern Kentucky responded with an 11-3 run – hitting three 3-pointers - to jump in front, 39-37, but a late triple by McFolley gave UDM a 45-44 lead at the break.

The Titans will be back in action on Sunday as Detroit hosts Wright State. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m., on Dick Vitale Court and it will be a special academic day as UDM honors the student-athletes who made the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

Game Notes:
The halftime score was Detroit 45, Northern Kentucky 44 and those were the two numbers Spencer Haywood wore at Detroit… This was the first career meeting between Detroit and Northern Kentucky as NKU joined the Horizon League last summer… NKU is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament, so if the Norse were to win the HL Championship, the automatic bid would go to whoever they played in the title game and not the regular season champion…  Detroit had all 10 players that played score, the first time that has happened since all 10 players netted points in the win against Bowling Green… Hogan had just six total points and was 3-for-12 in the last two games… Bass, Jenkins and Wilson totaled just one combined point at the half… It was the first time McFolley was in double digits since tallying 19 at Eastern Michigan, a span of nine games… Williams netted 12 points in each of the last two games… Wilson's previous career high in blocks was three at Pittsburgh earlier this season… Wilson now has a career-best 58 triples on the season and is fifth in school history with 177, 25 behind Jon Goode '08 for fourth place…