HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY. (2/6/2020) -- Three Titans scored in double figures, but a key second-half run was the difference as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team suffered an 84-65 loss at NKU on Saturday night.

Junior Dwayne Rose Jr. led the offense with a career-high 21 points, going 5-of-9 from the field and  10-of-10 at the line with five rebounds and three assists. Senior Justin Miller had 11 points and four boards and sophomore Antoine Davis tallied 10 points, three assists and two rebounds, while sophomore Chris Brandon registered five points, a team-high 14 rebounds and two blocks.

The Titans (6-19, 4-8 HL) never led, but it was close throughout the first half, never by double digits, and trailing 41-35 at the half. In the second half, NKU (18-7, 10-3 HL) used an 18-4 run to open the game up.

Graduate senior Brad Calipari had eight points as did sophomore Willy Isiani.

Detroit Mercy shot 44.7 percent from the field with sox from beyond the distance. 

The Titans will now head home for four straight starting with Youngstown State on Thursday, Feb. 13, in a 7 p.m. tip at Calihan Hall. Tickets start at just $10 and can be purchased at DetroitTitans.com/tix. 

First Half:

• A couple of Miller baskets inside and a three by Calipari had the game tied at 7-7 with 14:32 left
• Isiani would then scored seven in a row for the Titans on two layups and a triple to get the team within one, 17-16, at the 9:24 mark
• Davis drained his first 3-pointer and it was a 20-19 game with 8:13 on the clock
• NKU led by nine, 36-27, with 2:30 remaining when Davis hit another three
• Rose Jr. would then crash the glass for an offensive board and putback and the Titans were down, 36-32, with 1:30 left
• Down the stretch, Miller had an offensive rebound and basket and was fouled and his free throw made it 39-35, with 27 seconds on the clock

Second Half:

• Davis started the half with a jumper and then Miller got inside for a bucket to make it 41-39 with 18:36 left
• Another Miller move inside netted two points and it was 45-41 at the 17-minute mark
• NKU then went on an 18-4 run to take a double-digit lead, 63-45, with 11:32 left
• Brandon ended that run with a layup and another Calipari trifecta made it 65-41 with 9:56 on the clock
• A pair of free throws by Rose Jr. and freshman Sam Hofman pulled the team within 14, 71-57, with 6:13 remaining
• Rose Jr. had a layup and then hit a three at in the final minutes to get to 21

Game Notes:

• This was the 12th career meeting between the two schools as NKU leads the all-time series, 9-2, including 5-1 at BB&T Arena
• Davis hit two 3-pointers and now has 213 in his career, while sinking one in all 54 of his career games played 
• Davis now has 1,337 points four shy of 22nd place
• Brandon has been a beast on the glass in his last 14 games, pulling down at least 10 rebounds in nine contests and is averaging 11,6 in that span with four double-doubles. 
• Brandon came into the game leading the HL with 1.46 blocks per game and 35 total swats on the year
• Calipari has hit at least two 3-pointers in 13 games this season
• Miller has now reached double figures in 11 of the last 15 games
• Rose Jr. has started to pick up his scoring, netting double figures in five of the last seven games and just posted his first 20-point game with 20 at Wright State