YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (1/11/2020) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team found itself down 12 in the first half, but kept on fighting and eventually tied the game, but a last-second shot for the win was short as the Titans dropped a 69-67 game at Youngstown State on Saturday.

Senior Justin Miller had 16 points and six rebounds to lead the Titans, while sophomore Antoine Davis netted 14 with five assists. Sophomore Marquis Moore posted a career-best 15 points with six rebounds and three assists and graduate senior Brad Calipari ended with eight points. 

The Titans (3-15, 1-4 HL) were behind 20-8 in the first half and by nine, 59-50, with 6:26 left when Detroit Mercy made a charge at the win.

An 8-0 run with baskets by Miller and back-to-back 3-pointers by Calipari and Moore squared it at 65-65 with 2:19 left, and Brandon had an offensive rebound and putback at 1:23 to tie the game again at 67-67, but the Titans could not grab the lead back from Youngstown State (11-7, 4-1 HL). 

The Penguins were able to grab three offensive rebounds to keep a possession alive late to score and take a 69-67 lead, and then the Titans last-second shot did not drop.

Brandon tallied a game-high nine rebounds with six points and junior Dwayne Rose Jr. added five points off the bench.

The Titans shot 40.4 percent from the field with nine 3-pointers and held YSU to 41.2 percent shooting.

The red, white and blue will now get ready for a road trip to Wisconsin starting with a game at Milwaukee on Thursday, Jan. 16, in a game scheduled for an 8 p.m. tip. 

First Period:

• In his first start, freshman Sam Hofman nailed a three early on
• Brandon's layup made it 6-5 
• Calipari hit a three to pull the team within 11-8, but YSU would score nine in a row to take a double-digit lead, 20-8, at midway through the period
• A triple from Davis and then three points by Miller cut it to 22-18 with 4:52 remaining
• Davis nailed another three with 49 seconds left to get the squad within 28-23

Second Period:

• After a defensive stand, Moore hit a three and was fouled, connecting on a free throw to pull the team within 30-28
• YSU would take a 45-35 lead at the 14:31 mark
• The Titans scored six straight with two free throws by Calipari and baskets by Davis and Miller to make it 45-41
• Another three by Moore made it a four-point game at 50-46 with 11:14 remaining
• The Penguins then extended the lead to nine, 59-50, with 6:26 left when the Titans made one more run
• Two free throws by Miller and a jumper by Davis made it 59-54
• Detroit Mercy then went on an 8-0 run as Miller got inside and back-to-back 3-pointers by Calipari and Moore to tie it at 65-65 with 2:19 on the clock
• After a Youngstown State bucket, Brandon had an offensive rebound and putback to knot it again at 67-67 with 1:23 left
• On the next possession, the Penguins were able to corral three offensive rebounds and score to take a 69-67 lead 
• The Titans then got the ball back with 21 seconds left and had a chance to tie or take the lead, but the last-second three-point shot was short

Game Notes:

• Detroit Mercy still leads the all-time series, 38-11, and is 15-7 all-time on the road
• Isiani did not suit up due to a non-disclosed injury
• Moore had tallied a career-high 12 points six times in his career, including five times this season
• Miller was in double figures in scoring for the fifth-straight game and is averaging 15.8 ppg., in that span
• Davis came into the game second in the country and leading the Horizon League in scoring at 24.3 points per game