DETROIT (12/22/2023) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team will have one final non-conference tune-up as the Titans travel to North Carolina State on Saturday. 

Game time is set for 1:00 p.m., at PNC Arena and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and the Watch ESPN App. Fans can also listen to the action on the radio on WLQV 92.7 FM & 1500 AM FaithTalk Detroit with the Voice of Detroit Mercy basketball Dan Hasty.

Detroit Mercy is ending a busy week on the road as it started the week at Loyola Marymount and is coming off a setback at Central Michigan. 

Freshman Ryan Hurst continues to impress as he led the team with 16 points and nine rebounds at CMU, after 13 points in his collegiate debut at LMU. 

Graduate senior Donovan Toatley was in double figures for the fifth time this season, scoring 12 against the Chippewas, while sophomore Marcus Tankersley is averaging 13.0 points on the season. 

NC State is 8-3 on the year and is coming off an 82-70 victory over Saint Louis. The Titans and Wolfpack have played one common opponent in Ole Miss, a team that defeated UDM by one (70-69) and NC State by 20 (72-52). 

Following the game, the Titans will have Christmas break and will get back into Horizon League play at IUPUI next week. 

ALL-TIME SERIES

• This will be just the fourth career meeting between Detroit Mercy and North Carolina State, with the Wolfpack claiming all three games so far on their home court.
• The first meeting was in the postseason in the second round of the NIT in 1978, an 84-77 NC State victory, as Terry Tyler scored 19 points and John Long added 17.
• In 2013, Juwan Howard Jr. - the son of current Michigan head coach Juwan Howard - led the way with 24 points as the Titans outscored NC State 30-16 in the final 7:15 to cut a 17-point lead down to the final margin of 82-79 with Jarod Williams' last-second 3-pointer rattling in and out.
• In 2019, Antoine Davis scored a game-high 28 points, grabbed six rebounds, handed out four assists and had two steals, in an 84-65 decision. 

LOOKING TO END THE SLIDE

• The Titans have lost 13 in a row dating back to last season, the longest streak since UDM dropped 13 straight during the 2007-08 season.
• Meanwhile, the 12-game slide to start the season is the longest by the Titans since starting 0-14 in 1987-88, a year that saw the squad reach the MCC Championship game, while the 12-game in-season streak is the longest since that 13 game run in 2007-08. 

TOUGH NON-CONFERENCE SLATE

• Detroit Mercy will have 11 non-conference games, with several against multi-bid leagues.
• Nine of the 11 contests will have the Titans on the road as the red, white and blue face teams from the AAC, ACC, BIG 10, SEC and the WCC, among others.
• The 11 foes totaled a 202-161 (55.6%) record last season, with four making postseason trips in NC State (NCAA), Northwestern (NCAA), Toledo (NIT), and Cincinnati (NIT), and are 81-42 (65.8%) this year.  

EARNING THOSE HOTEL POINTS

• The Titans started the year with four straight away from Calihan Hall for the fourth time in school history and the third time under head coach Mike Davis.
• In 2020-21, Detroit Mercy started the year with nine straight on the road, while in 2019-20, the red, white and blue played seven in a row away from the Motor City.
• It also happened in 2006-07 when the Titans played their first five on the road.
• Overall, 12 of the first 15 games for the Titans will be on the road. 

FOND MEMORIES OF NC STATE FOR COACH DAVIS

• Head coach Mike Davis has a win over North Carolina State on his resume and it was a big one as his UAB squad defeated the Wolfpack, 72-52, in the second round of the NIT in 2010. 

LOOKING FOR THAT OFFENSE

• Everyone knew the Titans' offense might look different without Antoine Davis.
• Detroit Mercy currently ranks 345th in scoring at 61.0 points per game.
• Without the NCAA all-time second-leading scorer and the top 3-pointer shooter in NCAA history, UDM also ranks 321st with 5.4 triples per game.
• In fact, the Titans have not hit double-digit 3-pointers this season, the longest streak since going 15 straight at one point during the 2014-15 campaign.

SHOWING SOME DEFENSE

• Detroit Mercy has forced double-digit turnovers in six of its 12 games on the season, as Central Michigan just had 15. UDM also has at least 10 steals in three of the last six games. 
• The Titans had 10 steals and forced Loyola Marymount into 17 turnovers earlier in the week and forced Ball State into a season-high 21 turnovers with a season-best 12 steals. 
• The 12 steals were the most since tallying 13 against IUPUI last season, while the 21 forced turnovers were the most since IUPUI had 21 on the road in 2021.
• Detroit Mercy also posted 11 steals and six blocks against Oakland, the most since recording seven blocks against IUPUI at home last year.

EARNING POINTS AT THE LINE

• Detroit Mercy connected on a season-best 20-of-26 at the free throw line at Central Michigan,
• The 20 free throws were the most since making 21 at home against IUPUI last season, while the 26 free-throw attempts were the most since going 22-of-27 at home against Cleveland State last year.
• The Titans have now made double-digit free throws in four straight games, going 63-of-84 (75.0%) at the line in that span. 

A PRECIOUS STONE

• Senior Jayden Stone played just three minutes at Loyola Marymount as he injured his ankle early in the game and is considered day-to-day. 
• He has had a great start to the year, topping his career high twice and extending it to a career-best 34 points against Eastern Michigan, hitting 12-of-15 from the field and 4-of-7 from three. He also corralled six rebounds, had four assists and three steals. 
• Stone led the team with 18 points, seven rebounds, six steals and three assists against Ball State, the most steals by a Titan since 2017.
• He had a game-high 26 points, hitting a season-high 5-of-8 from three, along with grabbing a team-best eight boards at Cleveland State. 
• He flirted with a triple-double, posting 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists against Oakland, and that was after 23 points, five rebounds and three assists at Southern Illinois Edwardsville. 
• Earlier in the year, he had a then career-high 25 points at Cincinnati, going 9-of-20 from the field and connecting on four triples, and also led the team with 22 points at Ole Miss.
• Stone is averaging 18.9 points, second in the HL and 47th in the nation, with his 2.6 triples per game, fourth in the HL, along with 5.8 rebounds - eighth in the conference - and 2.1 assists. 
• He has now played in 24 career games with the Titans and has netted 20 or more 10 times, been in double figures 18 times, and has grabbed five or more rebounds on 16 occasions, including nine of the 11 games this season. 

SCORE IT MARK

• Sophomore Marcus Tankersley scored just seven points apiece in the first two games at Toledo and Cincinnati on 6-of-13 shooting, but he has picked up the offense since then.
• He just led the team with 17 points at Loyola Marymount and that was after his best game in college, tallying his first career double-double with a career-best 23 points and 11 rebounds at Northwestern. 
• He had 11 points with seven rebounds against Ball State, finished with 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and a career-high three steals against Oakland and tallied 16 points at Southern Illinois Edwardsville. He exploded for a then career-high 19 points at Ole Miss on 8-of-13 from the field with four rebounds and a career-high five assists and came back with 14 points and eight rebounds at Ohio. 
• Dating back to last season, he has now scored in double figures in 10 of the last 14 games. Overall, he is tallying 13.0 points and shooting 42.6% from the field, 11th in the HL. 
• Last year, he came on at the end of the season, scoring 10 points with three steals and five boards against Purdue Fort Wayne in the Horizon League Championship opening round and ended the year with a season-best 14 points, hitting 6-of-9 from the field, with three rebounds and three assists in the HL Quarterfinals at Youngstown State..

DEL CADIA NETS CAREER BEST

• Graduate senior Edoardo Del Cadia tied and then set his career high in points, while posting his first career double-double in the first 11 games. He has also showcased some fine all-around play as a post-player.
• Against Ball State, he registered 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal, while at Cleveland State, he scored five points, tied for the team lead with eight rebounds and handed out a season-best five assists with a block. 
• He recorded 14 points, six rebounds and four assists, shooting a career-best 6-of-9, at Southern Illinois Edwardsville and tallied a career-best 16 points and career-tying 10 boards at Ole Miss, to go with three assists, a block and a steal.  
• He has scored in double figures in five games and has grabbed at least five rebounds in nine of the 12 games this season as he is currently averaging 8.7 points, 5.9 rebounds - 10th in the HL - a team-high 2.2 assists and shooting 50.0% (38-of-76) from the field. 

WELCOME NEWBIES

• A pair of freshmen made their collegiate debuts at Loyola Marymount earlier this week and got right into the thick of things.
• Ryan Hurst - who has been dealing with an undisclosed injury since the start of practice in October - tallied 13 points, four rebounds and a steal at LMU and came back with a team-high 16 points and nine rebounds at Central Michigan. The 13 points in his collegiate debut were the most by a Titan freshman in his first game since Antoine Davis had 32 at Western Michigan in 2018.
• Meanwhile, Michael Oaks - who signed with the Titans out of a prep school two weeks ago, enrolled early and was immediately eligible - had five points and two blocks at LMU, and grabbed seven rebounds in just 17 minutes at CMU. 

DAVIS COMING ALIVE

• Sophomore Tyree Davis was scoreless and grabbed just two rebounds in the first four games, but he has come alive in the last eight contests, reaching his season-high of eight points twice and grabbing a season-best five boards, shooting 13-of-20 (65.0%) from the field. 
• He had five points, two steals, two rebounds, and a block at Loyola Marymount, and that was after eight points and his season-high five boards at Northwestern. 
• Davis earned his first Division I points, putting in two baskets and ending with four points against Eastern Michigan. 
• He then provided some energy and great minutes against Oakland, making 4-of-5 from the field and ending with eight points, four rebounds, and his first two career blocks. 
• Davis' dad, Ricky Davis, played 12 years in the NBA and averaged 13.5 points per game, including a career-high 20.6 with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2002-03.

MY FAVORITE COLOR IS PINK

• Junior Jamail Pink is coming off a career-high 11 points at Central Michigan.
• He gave the Titans some vital minutes in his first start at Southern Illinois Edwardsville, scoring six points on a pair of 3-pointers and registering two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in a career-high 29 minutes.
• He hit all six of his free throws to for six points to go with two steals at LMU. 
• He scored five points with three boards and two assists at Northwestern and netted five points against Ball State. 
• Pink had connected on just two career 3-pointers coming into this season, both last year, but has six triples this year. 

RETURN OF THE MAK

• Junior Mak Manciel is a local product from Sterling Heights, Michigan, who was a First Team NJCAA All-American as a sophomore at Henry Ford College after posting 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists, shooting 47.6% from the field, 40.8% from three and 83.0% at the line. 
• Last year, he was at Arkansas State, but missed last season due to a knee injury.
• While he is off to a slow start shooting, he just had a team-high four assists, four points and three points at Central Michigan.
• He scored his first Division I points on two free throws at Ole Miss, along with a steal. He connected on his first basket, a three, at Ohio and posted four steals and four rebounds against Oakland.

MOTOR CITY PRIDE

• Senior Kyle LeGreair is one of the lone veterans under head coach Mike Davis as he has now played in 69 career games.
• He had five rebounds and three assists at Ole Miss, two steals at Ohio and three assists against Oakland.  

HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR TRENTON

• Junior Trenton Johnson - a walk-on - did not see action in the opener at Toledo and played just 15 minutes at Cincinnati, but when the Titans needed another man at Ole Miss, his hard work and dedication paid off.
• Johnson scored his first DI points, finishing with eight on 3-of-4 shooting, 2-of-3 from three, along with three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
• He upped his point total to nine at Ohio, adding three assists and a block and had six points against Eastern Michigan.  

NEW GUARD IN TOWN

• Graduate senior Donovann Toatley played in 45 collegiate games with eight starts in his previous stops at Bethune-Cookman, Monmouth and Tennessee-Chattanooga, although he did not play in any games at Bethune-Cookman.
• He had a big day in the season opener at Toledo, going for a career-high 20 points, tying his career-best with three steals and assisting on six baskets. He scored 13 points with five rebounds and two assists at Cleveland State, added 10 points versus Ball State and 12 at Central Michigan. 
• He has missed a few games this season due to injury and the coach's decision. 
• 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.
• He suited up for 17 games at Monmouth in 2020-21, averaging 7.3 points, and scoring a career-high 17 points at Niagara, hitting 6-of-11 from the field and 3-of-6 from three. 
• As a freshman at Chattanooga in 2018-19, he played in 28 contests for the Mocs, starting eight, and scored 11.4 points, second on the team, while shooting 42.1%.
• His 82 assists led the team, good for an average of just shy of three per contest, and he netted 17 double-figure scoring nights and also had five points and a career-best 10 assists at Mississippi.

COACH WILLIAMS MAKES HISTORY

• Detroit Mercy hired its first female assistant men's basketball coach in school history in former high school coach Jerica Williams.
• She is one of 31 women on DI MBB staffs in positions of leadership directly working with the players, although she is the only current coach in Division I who has on-the-court instruction and recruiting duties.
• She was the girls' basketball head coach at Detroit Country Day from 2020-2022, where she was named back-to-back Coach of the Year in her first two years as a head coach while leading her team to back-to-back MSHAA Final Fours.
• Prior to the home opener on Nov. 21, Detroit Council Member Angela Calloway presented the prestigious Spirit of Detroit Award to her for her outstanding achievement.
• The Spirit of Detroit Award is issued by the Detroit City Council to a person, event, or organization deemed to have performed an outstanding achievement or service to the citizens of Detroit.

WIN #411 & COUNTING

• Head coach Mike Davis earned his first triumph as a head coach on Nov. 14, 2000, when his Indiana Hoosiers defeated Pepperdine, 80-68, in Bloomington.
• Last season, he won his 400th career game, 70-49, over Charlotte at home.
• He now has 411 career wins, 146th in DI NCAA history, one away from 143rd, held by and Mike Deane and Brad Brownell.  
• Davis is one of nine current coaches to win 100 games at three different schools (Indiana, UAB, Texas Southern).