DETROIT (2/4/2018) -- Junior Josh McFolley tallied a career-high 30 points and the undermanned Titans fought all game long but just couldn't pull it out as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell, 78-69, to UIC on Sunday afternoon in Calihan Hall.

McFolley was a career-best 11-of-23 from the field with four 3-pointers and also came away with a career-best six steals and five rebounds. Graduate senior Roschon Prince posted 18 points with five rebounds and redshirt junior Kameron Chatman ended with 13 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. 

Senior DeShawndre Black tied his career high with eight assists, playing all 40 minutes, and sophomore Cole Long pulled down a career-best nine rebounds and tied his career high swatting away three shots. 

Detroit Mercy (7-18, 3-9 HL) started the game on a 7-0 run, but UIC (14-11, 9-3 HL) was able to cool off the Titans and take a 43-37 lead at the break.

The Titans trailed by as many as 10 in the second half, but never quit, cutting it to three at 54-51 with 14:08 left. The Flames were able to raise their advantage to as many as 13 after that, the latest at 69-56 with 5:23 remaining, but an 11-2 run had the red, white and blue within four, 71-67, at the 1:13 mark

From there, UIC was able to hold on for the win. 

Detroit Mercy forced 14 turnovers and had 12 steals – the second straight game with double-digit steals – while shooting 79.2 percent at the free throw line (19-of-24). The Titans also had 15 offensive rebounds in the contest. 

Detroit Mercy will return to action on Friday, Feb. 9, as the red, white and blue visit #MetroSeries-rival Oakland in a game that will tip at 9 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN2.

First Half:

• The Titans opened the game on a 7-0 run, hitting the boards and forcing a few turnovers.
• After two offensive rebounds, McFolley made a great backdoor cut to get a layup and then off a steal, he went inside and slammed it down.
• After the defense stopped UIC, McFolley found Chatman and he buried a three for the 7-0 lead.
• UIC came back to tie the game at 11-11, but a steal by McFolley led to a dunk by Prince for a 15-12 score with 12:02 on the clock.
• The Titans also led at 18-15 and 21-19 when the Flames went on a run to open an 11-point advantage, 37-26, at the 3:40 mark.
• Detroit Mercy started to trim that and a steal from redshirt freshman Jacob Joubert led to another basket inside from Prince to pull the Titans within four, 41-37, and they went into the break down by six, 43-37.
• McFolley and Prince had 14 points at the half and the Titans shot 42.4 percent from the field. 

Second Half:

• UIC jumped out to a 49-39 lead, but McFolley's triple cut into that.
• Back-to-back baskets by Prince and McFolley had the Titans within four, 50-46, with 15:25 left and just a minute later, McFolley nailed a trey and it was a 52-49 game.
• The Titans were down by three again at 54-51 when the Flames went on a 15-5 charge over the next nine minutes for a 69-56 lead with 5:23 remaining.
• The red, white and blue quickly got back in it with eight-straight points starting with two free throws from Black and then an offensive rebound and putback by Chatman.
• Prince and McFolley each then hit a pair from the line and it was a 69-64 game with 1:42 left.
• Detroit Mercy got even closer as Black was fouled behind the three-point line and he connected on all three attempts to make it a 71-67 contest with just over a minute on the game clock.
• That was as close as the Titans got with UIC fending off a few of the home team's scoring opportunities in the final minute. 

Game Notes:

• Detroit Mercy has won eight of the last 12 from UIC and still lead the all-time series, 31-18
• The Titans 19 free throws were the most since knocking in 19 against Youngstown State
• The Titans now have 23 steals in the last two games
• McFolley was in double figures in scoring for the second-straight game, the first time that has happened since he had three straight against Saint Louis, Siena Heights and Fort Wayne
• McFolley's previous season high was 24 against Toledo and his career high was 26 against Youngstown State last season
• McFolley now has 149 career 3-pointers passing Juwan Howard Jr. '15 for ninth in school history and eight away from Michael Jackson '95 and eighth place
• McFolley became the fourth Titan this year to score 30 in a game following Chatman, Corey Allen and Jermaine Jackson Jr.
• Long's career high in rebounds was seven at Wright State last season
• Long now has 13 blocks in his last nine games and is now tied with senior Isaiah Jones for the team lead with 15
• Prince's season high is 19 against Cleveland State and his career high is 25 at Cal Poly as a member of Long Beach State last year
• Chatman recorded at least three steals for the fifth time this season
• Chatman picked up his team-high eighth double-double of the year
• Black had eight assists last year in the road win at Oakland 

 
   

McFolley with a career high 30 points and 6 steals! #DetroitsCollegeTeam #HLMBB pic.twitter.com/lloJGSrNZ6

— Detroit Mercy MBB (@DetroitMBB) February 4, 2018

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