DETROIT (1/31/2020) -- Sophomore Antoine Davis scored 26 points and senior Justin Miller netted 15, but it was not enough as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell, 77-64, to rival Oakland on Friday night at Calihan Hall. 

Davis scored 26 points for Detroit Mercy on 9-of-25 shooting. Senior forward Justin Miller fouled out with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting and collected four rebounds. 

Amidst an electric Calihan Hall atmosphere that saw both schools' student sections amp up their respective teams, the Titans clawed their way back from being down by as many as 15 after a lethargic start in the first half, the largest lead for either team all game long. After big baskets from Davis, during a stretch where he shot 3-for-4 from the floor, the Titans seemed poised to make a comeback. 

A Davis 3-pointer right in the face of an Oakland (8-15, 3-7 HL) defender cut the Grizzlies lead to nine with 2:06 remaining in the first half, opening up a 7-0 scoring run for Detroit Mercy (6-17, 4-5 HL). 

After the first of four technical fouls doled out between the two teams was called on Oakland for a player flop, it sent Davis to the line for a one-and-one opportunity, and the ball. On the ensuing possession, a dribble drive from Davis for an easy lay-in was able to stop the bleeding and cut the margin to seven, 32-25, with just north of 1:30 remaining in the first half. 

The Titans were able to hold Oakland scoreless for almost four minutes before a Golden Grizzlies basket gave them a nine-point lead going into the halftime break, 34-25. 

The second half saw the Titans playing catch-up as they started the second stanza down 10, going almost three minutes without a basket before a steal from Alonde LeGrand and a subsequent fast break was thwarted when an OU defender swooped in and took the charge. 

After a Justin Miller lay-up resulted in a foul on OU leading to the 3-point play, Miller splashed the free throw and suddenly, the deficit was cut to nine points. 

Detroit Mercy was able to provide a defensive stop, leading to an OU rushed shot. The very next play, an Oakland player was whistled for a flop resulting in yet another technical foul with nine minutes left in the second half. 

Several plays later after the media timeout, a pair of Davis free throws cut the Oakland lead to just four points, the closest it had been all game long. Unfortunately, the Golden Grizzlies ended the game on a spurt for the win. 

The Titans will be in action again on Thursday, Feb. 6 as they hit the road to square off against Wright State. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. from Dayton, Ohio and can be heard on AM 910 radio, as well as ESPN-Plus. 

FIRST HALF

• A Justin Miller basket at 15:20 gave the Titans their first points of the ball game. 10-2, Oakland leading. 
• A Davis three-point basket with five minutes left in the first half gave the Titans a little bit of momentum as they tried to fight their way back, but still saw themselves down nine, 27-18. 
• After Boe Nguidjol stepped in the lane to draw a charge, it saw UDM regain possession with 0:42 seconds left in the first half. 
• The Titans were able to hold the Grizzlies scoreless for the better part of four minutes before a Daniel Oladapo lay-up gave Oakland a nine-point advantage going into the locker room. Halftime score 34-25. 
•  Detroit Mercy was outrebounded in the first half, but only surrendered eight turnovers. The first half saw the shooting woes continue as they shot just a hare above 30% as a team from the field in the first half. 

SECOND HALF

• Antoine Davis's three-pointer almost saw the Titans emerge from the quicksand and cut the Oakland lead to just nine, 39-30. 
• Isiani's three several plays later saw the Titans fight their way back as the score was 41-33. 
• Alonde Legrand's alley-oop dunk on the pass from Davis at 14:12 made it 44-35. 
• Miller and Davis keep the two-man game going as they find each other on several trips up the floor, resulting in yet another Davis three which cut it to seven 54-47 with 9:34 left. 
• A masterful defensive sequence saw the Titans force Oakland into a bad shot which culminated in a technical foul issued to Oakland for player-flopping. After Davis swished the subsequent free throws, the Titans received the ball back. On the ensuing possession, Davis streaks off a curl, gets the pass and strokes a jumper from the corner, cutting it to five points. Detroit Mercy would cut the lead to as few as four in the second but couldn't get over the hump. 

Game Notes:

• This was the 26th career meeting between the two schools, located roughly 26 miles apart, and the series is now tied at 13-13
• Davis came into the game fourth in the country and leading the Horizon League in scoring at 23.3 points per game. 
• Davis now has 38 career 20-point games in just 52 collegiate contests
• Davis now has 28 games with four or more triples and has 207 career 3-pointers, moving past Anton Wilson into fifth place all-time in school history
• Miller has reached double figures in nine of the last 13 games and 13 overall times this season. 
• Miller's season-high was 18 against NKU and career-high is 22 at Kansas as a member of Louisiana Lafayette
• Rose Jr's season high was 16 at Milwaukee