TOLEDO, Ohio (11/6/2023) -- Graduate senior Donovann Toatley ended with a career-high 20 points and a game-high six assists with three steals, but Toledo took an early lead and never looked back as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell, 94-60, on the road in the season opener.

Senior Jayden Stone scored 15 points with six rebounds and graduate senior Oton Jankovic had nine points and four boards.

The Titans ended the game shooting 53.2% from the field, making 25-of-47 shots, but were 6-of-20 from behind the arc. 

Early on, graduate senior Edoardo Del Cadia scored the first basket of the season and then hit a three for a 5-4 lead. A layup by Toatley had the team down 12-9.

Later on, a layup by Tankersley and a drunk from Jankovic had the team down by just six, 24-18, halfway through the period. 

Toledo would go on a 15-3 run to take control of the game and lead 51-35 at the break. Stone nailed a three to start the second half, but the Rockets would raise their lead into the 20's and hold on for the win.

Del Cadia recorded seven points, six rebounds and three assists, while Tankersley had seven points and two rebounds. 

Detroit Mercy will be in action on Friday as the red, white and blue visit Cincinnati. 

Game Notes 

• The game was the 62nd all-time meeting between the two schools, which is tied with Michigan State for the 10th most against any opponent in school history and also tied for second with MSU and trailing only the 79 games against Eastern Michigan against an opponent who has never been a league rival
• Toledo leads the all-time series, 37-25, including a 23-7 record at home
• Detroit Mercy is now 184-126 all-time against current members of the MAC, but has dropped 12 of its last 14 MAC games since the 2015-16 season, with wins at Western Michigan during the 2020-21 campaign and at Eastern Michigan in the 2017-18 season
• Detroit Mercy is now 82-35 all-time on opening day, with two years in the early 1900's unknown due to record-keeping
• The Titans are now 16-67 all-time in road openers since 1932 and have dropped 23 straight road openers, with the last true road win at Chicago State, 87-65, in 2000-01
• It was the best Titan shooting percentage since hitting 58.3% at Oakland last season
• Toatley's previous high was 19 points, accomplished four times, with the last against Western Carolina as a member of Tennessee Chattanooga in 2018-19
• His three steals tied a career-high with the three he had against St. Peter's as a member of Monmouth in 2020-21
• Jankovic's previous career high was five at Alabama as a freshman at Vanderbilt

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