EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (11/25/2023) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team made a strong push in the second half, but it wasn't enough as the Titans fell, 81-67, on the road at Southern Illinois Edwardsville on Saturday.

Senior Jayden Stone netted a game-high 23 points with five rebounds and two assists. Sophomore Marcus Tankersley had 16 points and four rebounds and graduate senior Edoardo Del Cadia recorded 14 points, six rebounds and four assists.

The Titans (0-6) trailed by as many as 14 in the first half, but scored the last points in the stanza on a layup by Stone. They would begin the second period with 11 straight points and the 13-0 spurt cut the Cougars' lead to just one, 38-37, at the 17:22 mark. Tankersley started the run with a jumper and Del Cadia added a free throw and a dunk, off a strong pass from junior Jamail Pink. Pink would sink a three, and that was followed by a layup from Del Cadia, who was fouled and hit the free throw for the one-point deficit. 

SIUE (4-3) took a five-point advantage, but a three by Pink chopped it down to 42-40 with 16:10 left. The Titans also trailed by two at 44-42 as Del Cadia got inside for another layup and at 45-43 after Tankersley split a pair of free throws with 14:45 to go. 

The Titans kept battling as Stone worked his way to the basket for a bucket to make it a 48-43 contest and graduate senior Oton Jankovic was able to beat the defense for a layup and it was 54-49 with 12:21 left.

From there, the Cougars went on a 17-4 run to open up the game.

Pink ended the contest with a season-high six points a career-tying two rebounds and two assists and Jankovic registered six points and four rebounds. 

The Titans shot 46.4% from the field and outrebounded SIUE, 31-26. 

Stone started the scoring with a three to open up the game and then split a pair of free throws and it was 4-4 early. The game was also tied at 6-6 as junior Trenton Johnson hit a jumper and at 9-9 as Stone was fouled going in for a layup and connected on the free throw at the 15:35 mark. 

SIU scored eight in a row for a 17-9 lead and had a 14-point advantage at 30-16 with just over six minutes to go. Tankersley and Del Cadia would net back-to-back baskets and two free throws by Stone cut the lead to eight, 32-24, but the Titans went into the break trailing 38-26.

The Titans will now head into Horizon League play as Detroit Mercy hosts rival Oakland at Calihan Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m., and tickets start at just $10 for children and seniors and $15 for adults and can be purchased by clicking here. 

Game Notes:

• This was just the second career meeting between the two schools as the Titans won 81-55 at home in 2019
• Detroit Mercy is now 5-2 all-time against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference
• This was the Titans' fifth road game in six games on the year, as they will play 12 of the first 15 games away from Calihan Hall
• Stone has now played in 19 career games with the Titans and has netted 20 or more nine times, been in double figures 14 times, and has grabbed five or more rebounds on 13 occasions, including all six games this year
• Del Cadia was in double figures for the third time this year and the first since he had a career-high 16 at Ole Miss
• Del Cadia has also grabbed at least five rebounds in five of the six games this season
• Tankersley has now scored in double figures in six of the last eight games dating back to last season, shooting 40-of-71 (56.3%) in that span
• Jankovic's career high was nine at Toledo
• Pink had hit two career 3-pointers coming into the game, both last season
• Pink's career-high is seven points against NKU last season

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