DETROIT (2/17/2017) -- Freshman Corey Allen hit the 20-point mark for the fifth time in the last six games to lead a valiant Titan effort as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team dropped a 74-69 contest to UIC at Calihan Hall on Friday night.

Allen had a game-high 21 points hitting five more triples on the season to move his school freshmen 3-pointer mark to 69. 

Junior Jaleel Hogan tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the year and sophomore Gerald Blackshear Jr. netted 10 points with five boards. 

The game featured seven ties and 19 lead changes, including six lead changes in the last seven minutes.

The Titans (6-20, 4-10 HL) led by one, 55-54, with 7:21 left as Allen got inside for a basket, but UIC (14-13, 7-7 HL) then scored four in a row to regain the lead. The Titans then jumped ahead on two free throws from sophomore Josh McFolley and a three from Allen to give the red, white and blue a 60-58 advantage with 5:10 remaining.

UIC took the lead back on a three ball, but off an offensive rebound, freshman Malik Eichler was able to score and the Titans once again were in front, 62-61, with 4:25 left.

That was the last time the Titans had the lead as the Flames were able to hold off the late Detroit Mercy charge. 

McFolley finished with nine points. Freshman Cole Long added five points, five rebounds and two blocks, while Eichler had three points and a season-high four boards and two steals. 

The Titans held UIC to 38.1 percent from the field (24-of-63) - a season best for Detroit Mercy - and forced 17 turnovers, converting those into 15 points. 

It was a frantic start to the game as both teams were trading shots and battling back and forth for control. It was tied at 11-11 five minutes in when Detroit Mercy jumped in front courtesy of a three from senior Patrick Robinson Jr., and a layup from Hogan. 

After back-to-back baskets by UIC, Eichler hit a free throw, and then the Titans drained two triples, one from Long and the other off the hands of junior DeShawndre Black for a 23-15 advantage with 11:07 left in the opening half. 

The Flames would come back to take the lead and eventually led at the break by just one, 35-34. 

Detroit Mercy got out of the gate pretty fast to start the second going on a 10-1 run in the first four minutes to take a 44-36 lead at the 16:29 mark.  Blackshear Jr. started that spurt with a free throw and then McFolley drilled a three.

Blackshear Jr. then added a layup and after a UIC bucket, McFolley went to the rim for two-straight scores for the eight-point advantage.

Detroit Mercy continued to lead until the 11:13 mark when the Flames climbed ahead by four, 51-47. The two teams would tussle the rest of the way going for the crucial conference win. 

The Titans will now get ready for Valparaiso on Sunday, Feb. 19, with game time set for 2 p.m., inside historic Calihan Hall. 

To purchase tickets online, visit detroittitans.com/tix. To purchase over the phone or for more information on game tickets, contact Director of Ticket Operations & Sales Justin Hairston at 313-993-1700 ext. 7301 or at hairstjj1@udmercy.edu.

Game Notes:
Detroit Mercy leads the overall series, 31-17… Senior Chris Jenkins missed the game with an undisclosed injury…  Long missed his first 21 triple attempts on the season before connecting on one early in the first half… Long has had two blocks in a game on three occasions this season… With his five 3-pointers, Allen now has 69 triples on the season, just four away from cracking the top 10 in school history… Allen now has eight 20-point games on the season and five in his last six games… Blackshear Jr. was in double figures for the 11th time in his career and the seventh time this season… Hogan now has six career double-doubles and four this season…