VALPARAISO, Ind. (1/8/2017) -- Senior Chris Jenkins tallied a team-high 18 points and 10 rebounds and a late surge by the Titans had the red, white and blue thinking upset, but it just wasn't enough as the University of Detroit Mercy fell, 81-74, at Valparaiso on Sunday afternoon.
 
It was the seventh career double-double and the third of the season for Jenkins, who had four 3-pointers while handing out two assists with a steal.
 
Junior DeShawndre Black tied his season high with 14 points, while collecting a season-high four steals and finishing with four assists. Sophomore Josh McFolley posted 10 points, a team-high five assists and three steals and freshman Malik Eichler chipped in with a season-best nine points.
 
The Titan defense forced Valparaiso into 20 turnovers and registered a season-high 12 steals, but the Crusaders were 33-of-42 at the free-throw line while the Titans were 4-of-9.
 
Detroit Mercy (2-14, 0-4 HL) trailed by 15, 67-52, with 7:23 left when the Titans went on an 18-6 run over the next six minutes. Black had two treys in that span, while McFolley and Jenkins each drilled one from downtown. The defense held Valpo to 1-of-3 from the field with three turnovers during the spurt and the last triple from Jenkins had the Titans down 73-70 with 1:40 remaining.
 
The Crusaders (12-4, 2-1 HL), though, were able to fend off the Titans after that.
 
Junior Jaleel Hogan ended with eight points and eight rebounds. Freshman Corey Allen had nine points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals and senior Jarod Williams pitched in with six points.
 
The Titans shot 40.8-percent from the field and was 12-of-27 (44.4%) from behind the arc. Detroit Mercy also corralled 15 offensive rebounds and held Valpo to 4-of-15 from the outside.
 
The Titans and Crusaders came out shooting well to start the contest as Valparaiso took a 12-7 lead in the first four minutes. The Titan pressure defense then started to come alive as they forced Valpo into eight miscues in the first eight minutes.
 
On the offensive end, Detroit Mercy scored nine in a row to take a 16-12 lead, which was highlighted by back-to-back triples from Jenkins and Black along with a layup from Williams.
 
Valpo was able to stop that and open a six-point advantage, 25-19, with 8:18 left in first when the red, white and blue went on an 8-1 run to take a 27-26 lead. Eichler was the catalyst with a 3-pointer and a jumper off a good shot fake, while the go-ahead trey was from McFolley, who sank one from way beyond the arc with 6:42 left.
 
Eichler later added a layup off an offensive rebound to pull the Titans within two, 33-31, but the Crusaders went into the break up 39-33.
 
Detroit Mercy forced 12 turnovers in the first half and turned those into 12 points, while the Titans also made 6-of-11 from three-point range.
 
In the second half, Valparaiso was able to extend its lead to double digits on a few occasions, but the Titans always fought back. Hogan had a lay-up and Allen a three the first time to pull the team within five, 45-40, with 16:39 left.
 
Detroit Mercy then trimmed it to four off back-to-back baskets by Black and Williams to make it a 50-46 contest with 12:26 on the clock, but the Crusaders then upped their lead to a game-high 15 points, 67-52 with just over seven minutes left.
 
The Titans will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 13, when Detroit Mercy heads to Oakland for a #MetroSeries match-up with the Golden Grizzlies. Game time is set for 7 p.m., and it will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

Fans, remember the Titan basketball coaches show debuts tomorrow, Jan. 9, from 8-9 p.m., at Dino's Lounge in Ferndale and will be carried live on 910 AM Superstation with Cliff Russell serving as the host.
 
Game Notes:
Valparaiso leads the overall series, 17-11… The Titans won the 2012 Horizon League Championship at Valparaiso… Eichler's previous season high was seven points at Eastern Michigan… Black also had 14 points at New Hampshire… Jenkins now has 91 career 3-pointers… It was the first-ever double-double in a conference game for Jenkins, who now has seven career double-doubles… The Titans have forced 43 turnovers in their last two games… It was the most free throw attempts and makes since Green Bay was 33-of-49 at the line on the road last season… The 12 steals are the most since accumulating 13 at Northeastern in 2015…   

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