DETROIT (1/11/2017) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team will end its three-game road trip in enemy territory as the Titans travel to Oakland in a #MetroSeries battle on Friday, January 13.

Game time is set for 7 p.m., at the O-rena and will be televised nationally on ESPNU with Jordan Bernfield and Brooke Weisbrod on the call. Fans can also listen to the game on 910 AM Superstation with the "Voice of the Titans" Cliff Russell. 

Tickets will be limited as the #MetroSeries has brought out the fans on both sides. Since Oakland joined the Horizon League, the three games at Calihan Hall have averaged 6,541 fans, while the three games at the O'rena have tallied an average of 4,093.

A limited number of tickets to the game are available for purchase by contacting Director of Ticket Operations & Sales Justin Hairston at 313-993-1700 ext. 7301 or at hairstjj1@udmercy.edu.

Also, fans make plans to join Titan nation for a #MetroSeries Rally on Friday from 4-6 p.m., at Granite City in Troy, Michigan. Granite City Food & Brewery is located on 699 W. Big Beaver Road in Troy.
 
The rally will feature plenty of giveaways including raffles for a Titan prize packs, Dick's Sporting Goods gift cards and autographed merchandise from head coach Bacari Alexander '99.

VS. OAKLAND
This is the 19th career meeting between the two schools, located roughly 26 miles apart.

Detroit Mercy leads the overall series, 12-6, although Oakland has taken five of the last six meetings since it joined the Horizon League.

The Titans are also 0-4 all-time on the road in the series. 

ABOUT THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Oakland has won five in a row heading into the match up and is 14-3 on the season, 4-0 in the Horizon League. 

The Golden Grizzlies are coming off a 58-57 victory at UIC and that was after defeating Valparaiso on the road, 78-66.

Martez Walker leads the team and is fourth in the Horizon League with 17.5 points per game. Jalen Hayes is tallying 13.8 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds, while Sherron Dorsey-Walker is posting 11.8 points. 

Oakland is second in the Horizon League in scoring putting up 80.7 points, while leading the HL in scoring defense at 66.7 points per contest. 

LOOKING AHEAD
Detroit Mercy will return to Calihan Hall for a quick home game on Monday, Jan. 16, against Youngstown State.

It will be a basketball doubleheader with the women hosting Northern Kentucky at 4:30 p.m., with the men's game to follow at 7 p.m.

THE #METROSERIES IS BACK
Detroit Mercy and Oakland branded the annual rivalry called the Metro Series in 2014, which will be awarded to the school with the most head-to-head victories over the course of the academic year. 

The Golden Grizzlies and Titans will 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 two points, with cross country, golf and track and field being decided by the highest finish at the Hl Championships. The school with the most points at the end of the season will be awarded the Metro Cup. 

Last season, Oakland took the Metro Cup by a score of 27-5, and lead this year, 6-4, with the Titan women's soccer and women's basketball teams picking up wins and the two points. 

TOUGH SCHEDULE
The eleven (11) non-conference foes on the Titan men's basketball schedule posted a 197-161 (.550) last season with four teams making the postseason in East Tennessee State (Vegas 16), Florida State (NIT), New Hampshire (CIT) and Fort Wayne (NIT).

The non-conference foes the Titans faced are a combined 118-72 (62.1%) this year, including 50-9 (84.7%) for the seven non-conference match-ups on the road. 

In the national polls, Florida State is ranked No. 9 in the AP and No. 10 in the coaches poll. Fort Wayne is ranked No. 8 in the mid-major poll, while ETSU is No. 9 and Eastern Michigan and Toledo are receiving votes. 

RETURN TO SENDER
Detroit Mercy showed some toughness in the paint against Northern Kentucky doing work on both the offensive and defensive end. 

The Titans posted a season-high 10 blocks, the most since getting 10 at Green Bay in 2001. 

The red, white and blue also outscored the Norse, 34-22, in the paint. 

That offensive and defensive effort was led by junior Jaleel Hogan, who netted a career-high 22 points and a career-best eight blocks, the most by a Titan since Mike Harmon had eight against Green Bay in 2001.

The eight blocks are also tied for the most this season by a HL player. 

LONG DISTANCE OFFENSE
The Titans nailed 15-of-30 from three-point range against Fort Wayne, the most since setting a school record with 18 against Milwaukee on Feb. 26, 2000. The 15 triples are also the most in the HL this season.

In the win over WKU, the Titans were 12-of-20 (54.0%) and they are coming off a 12-of-27 effort on the road at Valparaiso. 

The Titans are currently fourth in the HL in three-point field goal percentage (36.3%) and fifth in three-point field goals per game (7.6). 

TAKE IT AWAY
The Titans unleashed a new pressure defense last weekend and the results were positive for Detroit Mercy as it posted 43 caused turnovers and 12 steals. 

The Titans forced UIC into 23 turnovers and had 10 steals and then recorded 20 turnovers with a season-high 12 steals at Valparaiso. 

The 23 forced turnovers were the most since forcing Milwaukee into 25 in 2012, while the 12 steals were the most since accumulating 13 at Northeastern in 2015. 

Detroit Mercy has now posted 43 steals in the last five games (8.6) and has the thief of the league in sophomore Josh McFolley, who tops the conference with 1.9 steals per game.

GETTING THE FREE ONES
After struggling at the free throw line for much of the season, the Titans have hit 52-of-73 (71.2%) in the last four games. 

In that span, Chris Jenkins is 13-of-15, Josh McFolley is 12-of-15, Jaleel Hogan is 12-of-17 and Corey Allen is 9-of-13. 

DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
The Titans have shown some improvements on defense since the season has started.
After allowing teams to shoot over 50.0 percent in the first five games, the Titans have held seven of their last 11 opponents to under that mark.

THE UGLY WHISTLE
The Titans were whistled for a season-high 31 fouls at Valparaiso their last time out, while the Crusaders just had 15

That led to Valpo shooting 33-of-42 at the line compared to 4-of-9 from Detroit Mercy. 

UNSTOPPABLE
Junior Jaleel Hogan has once again been an offensive force down low for the Titans as he is third in the Horizon League and 30th in the nation in field-goal percentage at 58.9 percent. 

He is currently second in school history in career field-goal percentage at 58.8 percent trailing only Eli Holman '12 (60.5%). 

JALETHAL
Junior Jaleel Hogan has been in double figures in 13 games this season. 

To start conference play, he posted a career-high 22 points on 10-of-15 from the field against NKU and came back with 16 points hitting 6-of-9 field goals against Wright State, 17 points at UIC and eight points and eight rebounds at Valparaiso. 

He also had eight rebounds and eight blocks against the Norse, in recording his second career 20-point contest. 

Some of his other big scoring games on the year are: 19 points vs. Western Kentucky and Manhattan, 18 points at New Hampshire and 16 points at Bowling Green and Murray State. 

Hogan has also just missed a double-double a couple of times corralling back-to-back nine-rebound outings against Manhattan and EMU and eight boards against WKU. 

In his last seven games, he is averaging 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while shooting 62.2 percent (46-of-74) from the field. 
Hogan is now leading the team and is tied for 10th in the HL in scoring at 13.9 ppg., while standing second on the squad and 19th in the HL in rebounding at 4.8 per night. 

HIGH SCORING MCFOLLEY
Sophomore Josh McFolley is currently second on the team and 12th in the Horizon League in scoring at 13.4 points per game. 

He is also fourth in the HL in three-point field goals per game (2.3) and is 14th in three-point field goal percentage (38.1%). 

He started the HL season with 15 points against NKU and had 13 points at UIC and 10 at Valparaiso.

He also had 18 points against Fort Wayne - where he had four 3-pointers - and 24 points - sinking six triples - in the win over WKU.

It was his second 20-point effort of the year after netting 25 points earlier in the season at ETSU, where he was 7-of-9 from three.
 
WITH THE PASS
Sophomore Josh McFolley is known for scoring the basketball, but he has done a great job creating for his teammates in the last six games amassing 29 assists (4.8 apg.). 

He had a then career-high of eight against WKU and came back with a career-best nine versus Fort Wayne.

The nine assists were the most by a Titan since Jason Calliste had 10 at UIC in 2013.

HIGHEST SCORING FRESHMAN IN THE HL
Freshman Corey Allen is now the highest scoring freshman in the Horizon League at 12.3 points per game - 17th in the HL. 

He is also leading the league in three-point field-goal percentage (47.2%) - hitting 34-of-72 on the season - and is tied for fourth in three-point field goals per game (2.3). 

COREY GETTING IN A ZONE
Freshman Corey Allen has notched double figures in scoring eight times this season, including a Titan true freshman record of 33 points against Fort Wayne - where he scored 27 points in the second half - and also had 23 his against Wright State and 12 at UIC. 

Some of his other big games have included 16 points against WKU, 16 points at Murray State and 20 points versus EMU. 

In his last 10 games, he is averaging 14.6 points on 49-of-98 shooting (50.0%) and 28-of-55 (50.9%) from three.

In his first five games, Allen averaged 8.2 points on 36.6 percent shooting (15-of-41) and 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from long range.

JENKINS IN TOP 10 FOR 3'S
Senior Chris Jenkins got off to a slow start from behind the arc hitting 7-of-34 in the first eight games, but has found his outside game recently nailing 10 of his last 21 three attempts in the last six games, which includes 3-of-4 vs. WKU and a season-high 4-of-7 at Valpo. 

He is currently eighth in school history in career three-point field goal percentage at 40.8 percent (91-of-223). 

CJ DOES IT ALL
Senior Chris Jenkins is well known for his all-around play and is among the Titan leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.

He is fourth on the team in scoring (11.9 ppg.) - 20th in the HL - while topping the squad on the boards (7.2 rpg.) - fourth in the HL. He is also third with 1.8 assists per game and with 11 steals. 

He is coming off his seventh career double-double - and third of the season - with 18 points and 10 rebounds at Valparaiso. 

He tallied a season-high 20 points against NKU - his eighth 20-point effort of his career - and that was after posting a double-double with 11 points and a career-best 16 rebounds against Fort Wayne. 

Jenkins has now scored in double figures in 11 games on the season and his three double-doubles on the year makes him one of six HL players with at least three double-doubles in 2016-17. 

Jenkins tallied his first double-double with 15 points and a then career-best 14 rebounds at Toledo. 

Earlier this year, he netted a team-high 18 points at Florida State. 

He has also just missed recording a couple of other double-doubles with 13 points and nine boards at Illinois and nine points with eight rebounds against Eastern Michigan. 

Jenkins has handed out an assist in 13 games with a season-high five at ETSU.

DID YOY SAY 33?
Freshman Corey Allen was on fire against Fort Wayne posting 33 points on a 11-of-17 from the field and 9-of-13 from three, while also handing out a career-high five assists.

The nine triples are the most by a player in the HL this season and the most by a conference player since Oakland's Max Hooper had nine at Green Bay last year.

The 33 points are the fifth-most in the HL this season and the most ever by a "true" freshmen in school history - breaking the 31 Titan Hall-Of-Famer John Long had against Bradley in 1975. It was also the most by a Titan since Anton Wilson had 34 against Youngstown State at home last year, while his nine 3-pointers were the most since Desmond Ferguson had 10 against Milwaukee in 2000. 

With his 23 points against Wright State, he now has three 20+-point games on the season.

CAREER NIGHT FOR MCFOLLEY
Sophomore Josh McFolley tallied a career-high 25 points at ETSU going 8-of-17 from the field and 7-of-9 from behind the arc. 

He was also back in 20-point territory with 24 in the win over WKU, where he was 6-of-9 from three-point range.

He now has 13 career games with at least three triples in a game, including five this season. 

He also has 37 treys on the season after hitting just 32 last year. 

YOU LITTLE THIEF
Sophomore Josh McFolley has recorded a steal in 13 of the first 16 games, including 11 multi-steal contests.

He tied his career high with four steals at Toledo and has 20 steals in the last seven games with three against UIC, WKU, Valparaiso and Fort Wayne and two at Bowling Green and vs. NKU. 

McFolley is currently leading the Horizon League with 1.9 steals per game, including 2.5 in HL games. 

JUST PERFECT
Sophomore Gerald Blackshear Jr. has been very active this season including just missing a double-double by tying his career high with 12 points and pulling down a season-best nine rebounds at Bowling Green. 

He was 6-of-9 against the Falcons and has connected on 50.0-percent or more from the field eight times this year. 

He is coming off a game where he was 4-of-5 from the field and ended with eight points and four boards at UIC. 

Blackshear Jr. also had 10 points, five boards and a steal at Toledo and eight points, five rebounds and an assist at Murray State. 

On the year, he is 39-of-62 (62.9%) from the field, good for second in the Horizon League.

Last season, he shot 55.2 percent from the field in limited attempts. 

DRE DAY
Junior DeShawndre Black has had at least three assists in nine of the first 16 games, including a season-best seven assists against Manhattan and five assists at Murray State.

Black also has a team-high 2.7 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season (40 assists, 15 turnovers). 

His last time out, he tied his season high with 14 points at Valparaiso, going 5-of-12 from the field with a season-high four 3-pointers. He also had four assists and a season-best four steals against the Crusaders.

Earlier this season, he scored 14 points at New Hampshire. 

GOOD TEAMMATES
The Titans were credited with a season-high 18 assists against Fort Wayne, the most since posting 18 against Youngstown last season. 

LONG BALL
Freshman Cole Long made his first collegiate start against WKU and played a season-high 34 minutes, posting four points, four rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.

In his second start against Fort Wayne, he recorded four points, two rebounds and two steals and just registered four points, four rebounds an assist and a steal against Wright State.  

SENIOR STATUS
Four seniors are on the Titan roster in Matthew Grant, Chris Jenkins, Pat Robinson Jr., and Jarod Williams. The quartet has played in 293 career games with 151 starts.

HE CAN SHOOT THE 3?
Freshman seven-footer Malik Eichler is 6-for-7 behind the arc this season.

Eichler is coming off a season-high nine points at Valparaiso, where he was 4-of-7 from the field with two rebounds in just eight minutes of action.

He tallied seven points against Eastern Michigan earlier in the year, where he was 2-of-3 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 at the free throw line. 

2017 LITTLE CAESARS MOTOR CITY MADNESS UPDATE
The 2017 Little Caesars Horizon League Men's and Women's Basketball Championship will run concurrently from March 3-7, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Tickets to the 2017 Motor City Madness went on sale on Dec. 29 at motorcitymadness.horizonleague.org. 

The championship games will be held on Tuesday, March 7, with an automatic bid into the NCAA Men's and Women's Tournaments.

2017 marks the final year the Little Caesars Horizon League Men's and Women's Basketball Championships will be contested at Joe Louis Arena before moving to the state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena, currently under construction in downtown Detroit. 

Over 20,900 fans attended the four-day tournament last year, the first neutral-site HL men's basketball championship since 2003.