DETROIT (12/19/2017) -- Ten Titans registered points on the night with three in double figures, but a second-half run by East Tennessee State University saw the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fall, 81-73, on Tuesday night in Calihan Hall.
 
Redshirt junior Kameron Chatman led the way with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Corey Allen had 14 points and sophomore Cole Long tallied a career-high 10 points and four assists with three rebounds. 

It was only the second meeting between the two teams, and the first in Calihan Hall, with last year's matchup held in Johnson City.

The Titans (4-8) were able to fend off an early outburst from the Buccaneers, who went on an 11-0 run after Detroit Mercy made the first basket of the game to earn a five-point lead at half, 39-34. The Titans shot 50.0 percent from three-point range and 75.0 percent from the free throw line in the opening half. 

Detroit Mercy saw the Buccaneers go on a 6-0 run out of the gates in the second half to take the lead, but the Titans did go back out in front a couple of times, the latest when two free throws from graduate senior Roschon Prince put the red, white and blue on top, 49-48, at the 12:57 mark.

ETSU (7-4) eventually pushed its advantage to as many as 12, 67-55, with seven minutes to go. The Titans got within six at 72-66, with 2:14 remaining, but could not complete the comeback. 

The Titans will return to action on Friday, Dec. 22, when the red, white and blue host Murray State at 7 p.m.
 
FIRST HALF:

• The red, white and blue got off to a hot start, forcing a defensive stop, then Chatman drilled a deep triple to put them up 3-0.
• The Buccaneers would then go on an 11-0 run before junior Gerald Blackshear Jr. grabbed an offensive rebound and laid the bucket in.
• That bucket would be followed by two huge plays from Long, getting an and-one and making the free throw, then drilling a corner three to tie the game at 11.
• The Titans would then face another deficit, 31-27, before battling back again, with junior Josh McFolley drawing a foul on a three-point shot and sinking all three free throws.
• That would be followed up by a layup from freshman Jack Ballantyne off a pass from Chatman to give the Titans the lead.
• The red, white and blue would use that momentum to build a five-point lead going into halftime, 39-34, off of a three just before the buzzer from Allen.
• The Titans shot 50% from three-point range in the first half and 75% from the free throw line in the first half.

SECOND HALF:

• ETSU would come out hot to start the second half, and eventually go on a 12-2 run to push their lead to double digits, 67-55.
• The Titans mounted a comeback against the Buccaneers, but the visiting team was able to hold off that charge.
• The red, white and blue would then go on a seven to zero run of their own, cutting the deficit to three, but a big 3-pointer from the Buccaneers Jason Williams would see that run end.
• The Titans battled hard to get back into the game, but just could not get over the hump, as McFolley cut the deficit to six with a made free throw with just over two minutes remaining.
• The Bucs would then score nine of the next 16 to get the 81-73 win.

Game Notes:

• This was just the second career meeting between the two schools as well as the second career game against a team from the Southern Conference
• The Titan women's lacrosse team is a member of the SoCon
• It was the sixth time this season the Titans have connected on double-digit 3-pointers
• Detroit Mercy came into the game 21st in the nation in free throw percentage at 77.5 percent
• Senior Isaiah Jones and redshirt freshman Jacob Joubert made their first career starts
• It was the fifth starting line-up combination for the Titans this season
• Jackson Jr. saw his string of 17-straight free throws come to an end, but he is still leading the team at 93.5 percent (29-of-31)
• Allen has now been in double figures in all 12 games
• Chatman now has four double-doubles on the season
• It was Chatman's fifth 20-point game of the year
• Long's previous career high in points was nine at Wright State last season
• Jones tied his season-best with three blocks