DETROIT (1/12/2018) -- Sophomore
Corey Allen tallied a game-high 34 points and freshman
Jermaine Jackson Jr. posted a season-best 32 as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team won its second-straight game, 93-91, over Youngstown State on Friday night.
It was Allen's third 30-point game this season and the fourth of his career as he was 8-of-16 from the field, 5-of-9 from three and a career-best 13-of-16 at the free throw line. Jackson Jr. recorded his first career 30-point night on 12-of-17 shooting with six 3-pointers, and his 32 points was one shy of tying the Titan freshman record, held by Allen who had 33 against Fort Wayne last season.
The Titans (6-13, 2-4 HL) trailed by as many as 11 in the first half and seven in the second, but Detroit Mercy would rally past Youngstown State (5-13, 3-2 HL) on the strength of a 24-10 run in the second stanza.
The game had six ties and 12 lead changes, most of that in the second half as both teams went back and forth, but the Titans found themselves down 66-59 with 7:52 left.
Detroit Mercy would go on a 12-4 run over the next three minute to take the lead as Blackshear Jr. grabbed an offensive rebound and laid it in, while he was fouled. He made the free shot and the Titans were ahead, 71-70, at the 4:48 mark.
Youngstown State took one more lead at 72-71, but two free throws from Allen and a 3-pointer by Jackson Jr. had the red, white and blue in front, 78-73 with just over three minutes remaining.
The Titans would lead by as many as eight the rest of the way until some late YSU 3-pointers had the Penguins back within one possession with under a minute to go, but free throws by Jackson Jr. at the end sealed the win.
Detroit Mercy shot 47.0 percent, including 68.6 percent in the second half and made 12 triples on the night. The Titans also won the battle of the boards, 41-38, and had a season-best 21 offensive rebounds. The defense forced 16 turnovers and the Titans were 19-of-16 (73.1%) at the line.
Graduate senior
Roschon Prince just missed a double-double with 10 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Junior
Gerald Blackshear Jr. had five points and a season-high eight boards and sophomore
Cole Long handed out a career-high five assists.
The Titans will now head to the road as they battle first-year Horizon League member IUPUI on Tuesday, Jan. 16, before returning home for the first Metro Series showdown of the season against Oakland next Saturday at Calihan Hall.
First Half:
- The Titans started fast as Blackshear Jr. had a basket and a three from Allen made it a 5-0 game.
- Youngstown State took an 11-point lead, 20-9, eight minutes into the action, but the Titans started to chip away.
- Two-straight baskets from Jackson Jr. and a jumper from freshman Jack Ballantyne tied it at 23-23 with 7:23 left.
- The Penguins were able to hold off the red, white and blue after that and took a 41-34 lead at the break.
- Allen had 12 points at the break and Jackson Jr. had nine and the Titans also owned a 25-18 lead at the boards after 20 minutes.
Second Half:
- The game was tied for just the second time after Jackson Jr. nailed a trey to make it 43-43 just two minutes into the period.
- He would later give the Titans a 50-49 lead with a 3-pointer at the 13:27 mark.
- A jumper by Prince gave the home team a 59-58 advantage with 10:19 remaining, but Youngstown State scored eight straight to take a 66-59 lead with 7:52 left.
- Detroit Mercy started to chip away and Blackshear Jr.'s old-fashioned three-point play had the team up 71-70 with 4:48 remaining.
- The Titans took the lead for good with two free throws from Allen to jump out in front 75-73 and then off a YSU turnover, Prince found Jackson Jr. and his trifecta made it 80-75 at the 2:45 mark.
- After a free throw by the Penguins, Jackson Jr. got loose again for a 3-pointer and it was 83-76 with just 1:30 showing.
- Senior DeShawndre Black split a pair at the line to up the lead to eight, 84-76, and the Titans also led by eight after Allen made two free throws for an 88-80 score with just 33 seconds in the game.
- Youngstown State hit three 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds to stay close, but Jackson Jr. put the game away hitting two from the charity stripe with seven seconds left.
Game Notes:
- The Titans have now won 10 straight over Youngstown State and lead the overall series, 36-9, including 21-3 at home
- The Titans came into the game leading the Horizon League and 45th in the nation in scoring at 81.7 points per game
- Detroit Mercy won the rebounding battle for the fourth time in the last five games and have either won or evened the boards in all six Horizon League contests
- The Titans have now made 30 or more field goals in back-to-back games and six times on the year
- Allen's career high is 39 against Houston Baptist earlier this year
- Allen's 13 free throws were the most since Juwan Howard Jr. went 14-of-14 against South Alabama, while his 16 attempts were the most since Jaleel Hogan had 17 against Green Bay last season
- Jackson Jr.'s career high in points was 25 at Green Bay, where he also hit seven triples
- Long had four assists against ETSU in December
- Prince came into the game averaging 11.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in his last five games
