ROCHESTER (12/28/2019) -- Sophomore Antoine Davis scored 24 points and sophomore Chris Brandon grabbed a career-best 18 rebounds, but it was not enough as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell, 78-69, to Oakland at the O'Rena on Saturday.

The 18 rebounds by Brandon are the most by a Titan since Greg Grant had 20 against Toledo in 1992. 

Davis also had six assists and three steals. Junior Jordan Gorman hit five 3-pointers to finish with a career-best 15 points and sophomore Marquis Moore tied his season and career-high with 12 points.

Detroit Mercy (2-11, 0-1 HL) trailed early as Oakland (6-8, 1-0 HL) scored the first 14 points, but would cut it to nine at one point in the first half, 29-20. Gorman nailed two-straight triples and then two free throws by Davis had the squad down by just nine with 5:07 left. 

In the second half, the Titans cut it to eight a few times, the latest at 60-52 with back-to-back 3-pointers with 8:48 left as Moore and Davis hit from distance, but could not get one final surge for the lead. 

Sophomore Willy Isiani had seven points and five rebounds and senior Justin Miller had six boards. 

The Titans won the rebounding total, 44-38, and forced 14 turnovers while shooting 21-of-24 (87.5%) at the free-throw line. 

The Titans will now get ready for the top-ranked team in the country as the red, white and blue travel out west to play Gonzaga on Monday, Dec. 30, in a 9 p.m. tip. It is the first meeting against the No. 1 team in the country for Detroit Mercy since taking on Michigan in the second round of the 1977 NCAA Tournament. 

First Period:

• Oakland scored the games first 14 points
• A basket by Brandon and then a steal off the inbounds pass by Davis led to his three to make it 14-5
• Back-to-back 3-pointers by Gorman followed by two free throws from Davis cut the deficit to nine again, 29-20, with 5:02 left
• Oakland ended the half on a 17-6 run 

Second Period:

• Isiani started the half with a triple
• A dunk by Brandon and then a three by Gorman made it 48-38 with 13:35 on the clock
• Gorman hit another three with 12:15 on the clock to cut it to 55-39
• Two free throws by Isiani and then Davis before he connected on a trifecta for a 7-0 run had the team within 12, 58-46, with 9:48 remaining
• Back-to-back 3-pointers by Moore and then Davis pulled the team within eight, 60-52, with 8:19 left
• Sophomore Boe Nguidjol's basket made it 65-56 at 5:35
• Gorman nailed his fifth triple to cut it to 75-66 with 23 seconds on the clock

Game Notes:

• This was the 25th career meeting between the two schools, located roughly 26 miles apart and Detroit Mercy leads the overall series, 13-12
• So far on the season, the non-conference schedule is ranked 62nd in the nation as the non-HL foes have combined for an 82-64 (56.1%) mark
• The 46, 3-pointers by the Titans were a new school record, eclipsing the 43 against Houston Baptist in 2017 
• The Titans came into the game leading the HL and eighth in the country in free-throw percentage at 79.3 percent and were 21-of-24 (87.5%)
• With his four triples, Davis now has 171 in his career, moving to seventh in Titan history and 29 behind Jon Goode for sixth place
• Davis now has 33 career 20-point games in just 42 career collegiate contests
• Davis now has 14 career games with five or more assists
• Brandon is now averaging 10.0 rebounds per game in his last four games
• Moore has scored 12 points in three of the last six games
• Gorman came into the game with just 20 total points on the year
• Miller now has 990 career points