Gameday Central - Oakland DETROIT (2/25/2016) -- The regular season comes to an end in dramatic style as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team makes the short trek to Oakland for a #MetroSeries battle on ESPNU on Friday night.
Game time is set for 9 p.m., at the O'Rena with Jordan Bernfield and Brooke Weisbrod on the call on ESPNU and the Watch ESPN App. The Voice of the Titans
Dan Leach will have all the action on CBS Sports Radio 1270 AM.
Detroit and Oakland branded the annual rivalry last year as the Metro Rivalry Cup will be awarded each season to the most head-to-head victories over the course of the academic year. Separated by just 26 miles, Detroit and Oakland are the only Division I schools located in the Metro Detroit area as the Golden Grizzlies and Titans compete in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's tennis, men's and women's track and field.
The winner of each competition will be awarded points, with cross country, golf and track and field being decided by the highest finish at the Horizon League Championships. This season, Oakland leads the competition, 11-1, after winning the first-ever Metro Rivalry Cup last year.
Detroit and Oakland have both witnessed attendance highs at the men's basketball games as Detroit has seen over 16,000 come out to Calihan Hall in the past three years to take in the #MetroSeries.
The game is also important for the final Horizon League standings as Oakland comes into the contest at 20-10, 12-5 in the HL, as a win would clinch the No. 2 seed for the Golden Grizzlies. Detroit is 15-13 and 9-8 in the conference, where UDM can either finish fifth or sixth in the league.
This is the final week of HL play as #MotorCityMadness will start up next weekend as the Horizon League Championship will be held at Joe Louis Arena from March 5-8. For tickets to that event and to see all the ticket packages and options for attending the game,
click here.DETROIT VS. OAKLANDThis is the 18th career meeting between the two schools, located roughly 26 miles apart.
Detroit leads the series, 12-5, although Oakland has taken four of the last five meetings since it joined the Horizon League.
The Titans are also 0-3 all-time on the road in the series.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIESOakland has won nine of its last 11 and is 20-10 on the season, 12-5 in the Horizon League. Oakland is playing for a No. 2 seed and a bye to the HL semifinals, which it can clinch with a win or a loss by Wright State on the final weekend of regular season play.
Kahlil Felder leads the Horizon League in scoring (24.3) and assists (9.2). Jalen Hayes is ninth in the HL in scoring (13.9) and tops the league in rebounding (8.7), while Percy Gibson is tallying 11.3 ppg.
Oakland leads the conference in scoring at 86.6 points, while standing seventh in defense allowing 79.9.
#MOTORCITYMADNESSThe Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament - #MotorCityMadness - will take place just 9.2 miles away from campus.
The first two years of the five-year agreement with Olympia Entertainment will be played at Joe Louis Arena, home to the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings, before moving to the state-of-the-art Detroit Events Center, currently under construction in downtown Detroit.
A number of ticket packages are available from full tournament sessions to family packs. For tickets, visit motorcitymadness.horizonleague.org, Ticketmaster or call 313-471-7575.
Remember to mention Detroit to sit in the Titan fan section
A LOOK AT THE HL CHAMPIONSHIPThe Titans are currently sixth in the Horizon League standings and can finish as high as fifth in the conference.
The Titans can clinch fifth with a win and Milwaukee losing its last two games (vs. Valpo, vs. UIC). If Detroit and Milwaukee end up tied at 9-9 or 10-8, then it will come down to tiebreakers with the Panthers potentially holding two with a possible win over Valparaiso and a win over Green Bay or the Titans getting the nod due to a possible win against Oakland and their win against Wright State.
There is still a lot to be determined going into the final weekend.
STRONG AT HOMEDetroit finished the regular season 11-4 on Dick Vitale Court this year and winners of 14 of its last 18 home games.
On the year, Detroit is averaging 86.7 points at home and allowing 78.3, all while shooting 48.2 percent from the field.
On the road, Detroit is 4-9 this season, but has won four of the last five away from Calihan Hall.
On the year, the Titans are averaging 79.5 points and giving up 86.5 on the road.
POINTS, POINTS, POINTSThe Titans are 10th in the nation - and third in the HL - in scoring at 83.4 points, behind only Oakland (86.6) and Green Bay (85.6).
The 83.4 points are the best offensive numbers since averaging 92.6 points during the 1977-78 season under coach Dick Vitale.
The Titans have also scored 90 or more points seven times, the most since scoring 90 or more seven times in the 1987-88 campaign.
OFFENSIVE ATTACKDetroit has scored at least 75 points in 21 of its 28 games, including 88 or more nine times and 90 or more on seven occasions.
UDM has also made at least 30 field goals 11 times and has posted 39 twice.
The Titans lead the HL in shooting at 46.5 percent. They have also posted 50% or higher eight times, and 47% or higher 15 times.
Detroit is coming off a game in which it shot 52.1% (25-of-48) at Valparaiso, the best defensive team in the conference and one of the best in the nation.
Detroit hit eight of its first 11 shots and finished shooting 53.1% (34-of-64) in the win over Milwaukee in its home finale and also had an explosive game on offense as it scored 94 points and shot 53.8% (35-of-65) from the field at Youngstown State. In the home win over Wright State - another top defensive team in the hL - Detroit shot 47.3% overall and 60.0% in the second half (12-of-20).
In the first meeting against Oakland, UDM was at 52.4% (33-of-63) - including 58.1% (18-of-31) in the second half.
GETTING DEFENSIVEThe Titans have held four of their last eight opponents to under 70 points, including a season-low 63 points at Cleveland State, 68 to Wright State and at Northern Kentucky, and 66 against a high-scoring Milwaukee team.
Detroit also has 15 games on the year with seven or more steals, 12 with five or more blocks and seven games in which the opponent has turned it over 15 or more times.
In the win at UIC last weekend, the Titans held the Flames to 39.9%, including 4-of-20 from three.
WHO WILL SCORE?Detroit has had six different Titans lead the team in scoring this season.
UDM has also had seven different players net 20 or more in a contest and four or more players in double figures 18 times.
The Titans had six players in double digits in their win at Youngstown State and also did so against UM-Dearborn earlier in the year.
SO CLOSEDetroit has suffered eight of its 13 losses by single digits, including six by five points or less and three games by one possession.
In Horizon League play, UDM has dropped a one-point game at Wright State (77-76) and against Green Bay (86-85), a three-point setback at Milwaukee (83-80), a home contest against Oakland (86-82) and an overtime decision at Green Bay (115-108).
DOWN LOW POWERDetroit has been getting it done in the post outscoring opponents in the paint 14 times this season, including in five of the last seven contests.
UDM outscored Milwaukee, 46-18, and at NKU, 36-22, in two of its last four wins.
The 48 points in the paint are tied for the third-highest amount on the season for Detroit behind the 58 at Green Bay and 55 at Oral Roberts.
GETTING TO THE LINEThe Titans are attacking the rim and getting a chance to score some easy points.
Detroit has visited the free throw line 496 times in HL play, connecting on 341 (68.8%), leading the Horizon League in attempts and standing second in makes in league-only games.
In the win over Wright State, Detroit was 28-of-37 (75.7%), while WSU was just 7-of-10. Detroit was also 31-of-39 (79.5%) at the line in the win over UIC last week, setting a season high in made free throws.
The Titans were also 25-of-29 (86.2%) in the win over Youngstown State and 28-of-42 (66.7%) in the triumph over Cleveland State.
The 42 free throws were the most since attempting 43 against Stony Brook in 2013.
BOMBS AWAYDetroit was 15-of-27 from three against UM-Dearborn on Nov. 23, the most since knocking down 15 against DePaul in 2007.
UDM has tallied double-digit triples eight times this season after accomplishing it just three times all of last year. UDM tallied double-digit treys in HL play for the first time this year hitting 10-of-21 at Cleveland State.
Detroit is second in the Horizon League and 27th in the nation in three-point field-goal percentage (38.7%) and 74th in three-point field goals per game (8.2), third in the HL.
CLEANING THE GLASSDetroit totaled a season-high 53 rebounds in the win over Youngstown State, outrebounding the Penguins by 33 (53-20).
The 53 boards were the most since grabbing 55 against Niagara in a 96-77 win in 2010.
It was the third time this season Detroit has recorded 45 or more boards as it had 52 against Central State and 45 at Oral Roberts.
UDM has also outrebounded opponents in its last six wins against Wright State (31-21), at Cleveland State (39-27), at Youngstown State (33-31), against Milwaukee (41-35), at NKU (42-32) and at UIC (43-41).
The Titans are 13-3 on the season when outrebounding their counterpart.
COUNTING 20'S Paris Bass just posted his sixth-straight 20-point game as he just tied his career high for the fourth time with 28 points at Valparaiso.
That came after a team-high 22 points at UIC, 24 points at NKU, against Milwaukee and Green Bay and 20 at Youngstown State.
The six-straight 20-point games are the most for a Titan since Willie Green did it in 10-straight from 2002-03.
The 20-point streak also came after he went three-straight games not even reaching double figures with seven against NKU and at Cleveland State and six versus Wright State.
In the last six games, he is averaging 23.6 points on 52.3 % shooting (55-of-105) and 71.4 % (25-of-35) at the free-throw line.
GLASS MANSophomore
Paris Bass collected a career-high 17 rebounds at Cleveland State, which was just 10 less than what the entire CSU team recorded.
His 17 rebounds were the most by a Titan since Feb. 14, 2010, when Eli Holman had 18 vs. Milwaukee.
Bass has now collected double-digit rebounds in five of the last seven contests and seven times in HL play.
In conference play, Bass is fourth in rebounding at 8.6 per game.
ONE BIG FISHSophomore
Paris Bass - who missed the first seven games due to a suspension for violation of team rules - has been a force on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
He posted his sixth double-double of the season with a team-high 22 points and 11 rebounds at UIC last week.
He also had a team-high 24 points and 10 rebounds against Milwaukee, 24 points and 13 boards against Green Bay and a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds at Northern Kentucky.
Bass tied his career high for the fourth time with 28 points at Valpo, which also included seven rebounds and a career-high four assists.
Some other great games included 28 points at Wright State, 28 points and 13 rebounds against Cleveland State, 23 points, eight rebounds and six blocks at Green Bay and 20 points, eight rebounds, a career-high six assists, three blocks and a steal vs. Oakland.
LURKING IN THE WATERSophomore
Paris Bass has recorded double figures in 17 of his 21 contests, pulled down seven rebounds in 15 games and has had three assists or more 11 times, not to mention 12, 20-point outings and six double-doubles.
His 12, 20-point games is third in the HL, while his six double-doubles in HL games only is tied for fourth.
He is averaging 18.7 ppg., 7.9 rpg., 2.3 apg., 1.5 blocks and 1.5 steals per game, ranking fourth in the league in scoring and blocks, fifth in rebounding and sixth in steals.
In Horizon League only games, he is fourth in scoring (19.2), rebounding (8.6), blocks (1.7) and steals (1.7).
Bass has totaled 393 points on the season, just 17 away from the 410 he had last year - in 12 fewer games.
#1 SHOOTING 3'SSharpshooting senior
Anton Wilson continues to make his name show up in the Titan record books.
He shot 41.8 percent from behind the arc last season, a number that ranks sixth in school history as he was 56-of-134 from long distance.
This season, he is hitting the three at 43.8 percent (81-of-155), which is currently fifth in school history. He is also seventh in the HL and 24th in the nation.
His 81, 3-pointers on the season is a new career high surpassing the 56 he had last year, and is the third-straight season he has made 50 treys in a season.
He enters the game seventh in school history in single season 3-pointers with 77.
Wilson is fifth in school history with 200 career 3-pointers and is also currently third in UDM history with a 41.4 three-point field goal percentage.
Titan Career 3-Point Field Goal Leaders1. Rashad Phillips, 1998-01 - 348
2. Desmond Ferguson, 1998-00 - 235
3. Dwayne Kelley, 1990-93 - 224
4. Jon Goode, 2005-08 - 202
5. Anton Wilson, 2012-pre. - 200Career 3-Point Field Goal % Leaders1. Archie Tullos, 1985-88 - .433
2. Bill Wood, 1987-90 - .415
3. Anton Wilson, 2012-pre. - .414Titan Season 3-Point Field Goal Leaders1. Rashad Phillips, 2001 - 136
2. Rashad Phillips, 2000 - 102
3. Greg Grays, 2002 - 95
4. Desmond Ferguson, 1999 - 83
5. Desmond Ferguson, 2000 - 82
6. Anton Wilson, 2016 - 81TRIPLE 3 SPECIALITYAnton Wilson started the season with back-to-back games hitting four 3-pointers, and he added another game with four treys at #16/13 Vanderbilt. He also hit a season-high five treys vs. Bowling Green and in the win Wright State, one off his career best.
Wilson has made a triple in 27 of 28 games this season with his only blemish against Milwaukee (0-for-3).
He has 20 career game with four or more treys, 88 career games with at least two 3-pointers and 35 games knocking down, at least, three treys.
WHAT A SENIOR YEARSenior
Anton Wilson has 23 double-digit scoring games with three 20-point efforts.
He is second on the team in scoring at 14.4 ppg., - eighth in the HL. His 81 treys top UDM and his 2.89 three-point field goals per game is second in the HL and 37th in the nation.
BACK-TO-BACK 20'SJunior
Chris Jenkins tallied back-to-back 20-point games for the first time in his career as he registered a team-high 20 at Milwaukee and a team-best 25 at Green Bay.
With his 20 points at Cleveland State, he now has six career 20-point games - five this year.
DOUBLE-UP CHRISJunior
Chris Jenkins has scored in double figures 15 times already, which includes four 20-point games, a career high in points and three double-doubles.
He netted his career-high 26 points with 10 rebounds and three steals in the win over UCF and had a great week in Wisconsin with 20 points at Milwaukee and 25 at Green Bay, team highs in both games.
He has also tallied 17 points and 11 rebounds against Toledo - where he also has a career-best four blocks.
He has twice tied his career high with four steals in a game and at Oral Roberts, Jenkins had 16 points and a career-tying 13 rebounds.
On the year, the do-it-all Titan has:
- 15 games in double figures
- 18 games with five or more rebounds
- 10 games with two or more assists
- 6 games with two or more steals.
He is currently third on the team and 17th in the HL in scoring (12.3), while standing third on the team and 15th in the league in field-goal percentage (48.8%).
He is also among the team leaders and the top 15 in the Horizon League in:
3-Point Field Goal Percentage (45.7%) - 3rd
Free throw percentage (76.1%) - 9th
Rebounding (5.7) - 12th
Steals (1.0) - 13th
JA-LETHALSophomore
Jaleel Hogan has been in double figures 16 times on the year.
He posted his second double-double of the year with 18 points and a season-tying 10 boards against Green Bay.
Back on Jan. 16, he tallied a career-high 20 points with eight rebounds against Oakland.
He had his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 boards vs. Bowling Green.
He is fourth on the team netting 10.2 points per game, all while shooting 58.0 percent, second in the HL.
PAINT MANWith his strength, sophomore
Jaleel Hogan is uncanny in the paint showcased by his career 59.3 (178-of-300) field-goal percentage.
On the year, he is second in the HL in field-goal percentage at 58.0 % including leading the league in conference play at 59.7 %.
Last season, he ended the year with a blistering 62.0 field goal percentage (62-of-100), which would rank third in school history for a single season, but was 25 shot attempts shy from qualifying for that mark.
HIGH-SCORING ROOKIEFreshman
Josh McFolley has scored in double figures 11 times this year, including 16 points against Youngstown State on Feb. 6 - the most he has scored in HL play.
McFolley scored a season-high 20-points in a victory over Northeastern, 19 at Eastern Michigan and 16 in the win versus Toledo.
He handed out a season-high six assists in the win over Cleveland State and now has seven games on the year with four or more assists.
He is currently sixth on the team with 8.4 ppg. - fifth among HL rookies - and is second among all HL freshmen in three-point field goals per game (1.5) and three-point field goal percentage (36.0%).
CB'S FINAL STANDCarlton Brundidge has had a career year so far in his final season of eligibility.
He just recorded his 15th double-digit scoring effort of the season with 19 points at Valparaiso. That was after tallying his third career 20-point game with 21 points and a team-high seven assists at UIC.
Brundidge registered his second double-digit rebounding game with 11 boards at NKU and that performance came after he had his first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 12 boards against Milwaukee.
On Jan. 31 vs. Wright State, he played just 10 minutes and did not score, but since then (7 games) he is averaging 14.7 ppg., 6.3 rpg., 3.1 apg., and is shooting 56.5% (39-of-69). He has also scored in double digits in six of those seven games, posted his first career double-double and his third 20-point game.
He leads the team with 2.4 assists - 15th in the HL - and is fifth on the team in scoring (10.0) and tied for fourth in rebounding (4.0). He also leads the team with a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Earlier in the year, he posted a career-best 23 points at Oral Roberts and had a career-high nine assists against UM-Dearborn.
