DETROIT (12/21/2019) -- Sophomore Antoine Davis scored the game's first six points en route to a game-high 35 and the Titans never looked as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team crushed Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 81-55, on Saturday afternoon.

It was the 12th career 30-point game for Davis as he finished 11-of-20 from the field and 7-of-13 from behind the arc with two assists and two steals. 

Sophomore Marquis Moore tied his career-high with 12 points to go with four rebounds. Senior Justin Miller added 12 points, sophomore Boe Nguidjol had eight with five rebounds and sophomore Chris Brandon crashed the glass with a career-best 10 caroms. 

Detroit Mercy's (2-10) defense was the story as they smothered SIUE (2-10) in the first half allowing just 15 points and holding the Cougars to just 4-of-20 from the field. The Titans led 21-4 at one point and 37-15 at the break.

In the second half, the Titans opened as much as a 25-point cushion, 56-31, with 12:51 left and the red, white until a SIUE run cut the deficit to 16, 62-46 with under seven minutes remaining.

That is when the Titans slammed the door on the win with a 19-6 run for the near 30-point victyory.

Sophomore Alonde LeGrand had five assists and four rebounds and Brandon had six points.

The defense forced SIU into 37.0- percent shooting and 4-of-16 from behind the arc with 14 turnovers. The Titans also dominated the boards, 41-30.

Detroit Mercy will now get ready to open the Horizon League campaign at Metro Series-rival Oakland next Saturday, Dec. 28, in a 3 p.m. tip

First Period: 

• A Davis jumper at 19:40 started the scoring for the Titans and he would ultimately score the first six points by himself, starting the contest a perfect 3-of-3 from the field
• LeGrand's block in transition led to a Brandon layup at 14:11 to make it 10-4 Titans
• Sophomore Willy Isiani swished a three and hyped up the Christmas crowd on a play assisted from Davis at 10:14
• Another Davis three made the score 19-4, capping a 13-2 scoring run for the remaining six minutes plus of the first half

Second Period: 

• The Titans started the second half by making 7-of-8 from deep
• Brandon's one-handed tip-dunk off of an Isiani miss extended the Titan lead by 20 at that point, 62-42 with eight minutes remaining
• Another three from Davis would put the Titans up by 23, 69-46
• Not long after that Davis three, the Titans would embark on yet another scoring surge going on a 10-0 tear holding SIU scoreless

Game Notes:

• This was the first career meeting between the two schools
• Davis came into the game leading the Horizon League and third in the nation in scoring at 24.3 points
• The 15 points allowed in the first half was the fewest since the Titans led UIC at the break 53-14 on Jan. 19, 2013 
• Davis now has 32 career 20-point games and 12 career 30-point games in just 41 career contests 
• The 35 points by Davis was the most since he had his career-high 48 against Wright State last season
• Davis now has 167 career 3-pointers, ninth in school history
• Miller now has 988 career points
• It was the third time in his career that Moore has scored 12 points as he did it against Eastern two weeks ago and at NKU in the Horizon League Championship quarterfinals last season