BLACKSBURG, Va. (11/10.2018) -- Junior
Kameron Chatman had a night to remember in his Titan debut scoring 23 points as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell on the road to RV/RV Virginia Tech, 111-79, on Friday night.
It was the season opener for both schools as well as the opening game of the 2K Sports Classic Benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project.
Chatman was 9-of-12 from the field, including hitting all four of his 3-pointers, while also registering seven boards, two steals and a block.
Freshman
Jermaine Jackson Jr., netted 16 points with seven boards and three assists and sophomore
Corey Allen finished with 11 points and a team-high four helpers.
The Titans trailed for most of the game, but a three by freshman
Jack Ballantyne gave the red, white and blue a 24-23 advantage halfway through the first half. Detroit Mercy had some good looks in the first half that did not fall, and then the Hokies' offense was too strong in the final 20 minutes.
Graduate senior
Roschon Prince and junior
Tariiq Jones each posted nine points, with Prince pulling down five rebounds.
The Titans shot 37.1 percent from the field sinking nine 3-pointers and were also 18-of-22 at the free throw line (81.8%). The Titan defense recorded 10 steals with Allen tying his career high with four thefts.
Detroit Mercy will return to action on Monday, Nov. 13, as the red, white and blue host UM-Dearborn at 7 p.m., in the second game of a day-night basketball doubleheader. The action starts with the women welcoming Bowling Green at 11 a.m.
First Half:
- Chatman registered the first Titan points of the season nailing a 3-pointer.
- Virginia Tech opened up a 16-6 lead just five minutes into the game, but back came the Titans on an 18-7 run over the next five minutes.
- Allen netted six points in that span and Chatman had five.
- Ballantyne drained a three to give Detroit Mercy a 24-23 lead at the 10:15 mark.
- An 8-0 run by the Hokies followed, but a jumper by Chatman and then a triple from the UM transfer had the Titans behind by just two, 31-29, with 7:19 left.
- Virginia Tech was able to extend its lead to as many as 12, but a layup from Price made it a 52-42 game at the break.
- Chatman had 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting with five rebounds in the first 20 minutes, while Jackson Jr., and Allen added six points apiece.
- Detroit Mercy shot 39.5 percent from the field and 86.9 percent at the free throw line, but Virginia Tech was at 54.1 percent from the field.
Second Half:
- Virginia Tech started the second period with eight-straight points before a layup by Allen ended that.
- Two free throws from junior Josh McFolley trimmed the deficit to 14, 60-46, and later on, two free throws by Jackson Jr., had the Titans down by 14 again, 62-48, with 17 minutes to go.
- The Hokies remained hot shooting the ball and increased their lead the rest of the way.
Game Notes:
- This was the first career meeting between the two schools.
- The Titans are now 20-69 all-time against ACC schools.
- Chatman's career high was 13 as a sophomore for Michigan in a game against Rutgers.
- Allen's career high in assists is five against Fort Wayne last year, where he also had 33 points.
- Senior Isaiah Jones made his Division I debut after battling knee injuries for two years.
