FORT WAYNE, Ind. (12/31/2023) -- Graduate senior Edoardo Del Cadia posted his third double-double of the season with a career-high in points and rebounds, leading three Titans in double figures, but it wasn't enough as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell, 91-56, at Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday.

Del Cadia tied his career high with 16 points and grabbed a career-best 14 rebounds, while adding two steals, a block and an assist. Redshirt freshman Abdullah Olajuwon had a career-high 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting with five rebounds and sophomore Marcus Tankersley netted 12 points and had five boards. 

The Titans (0-15, 0-4 HL) started slowing, connecting on 1-of-8 from the field as Purdue Fort Wayne (13-2, 4-0 HL) took a 13-2 lead just six minutes into the game. Tankersley stopped that with a score and freshman Ryan Hurst nailed a three to trim the deficit to 13-7.

UDM made a run and had a chance to take the lead as Del Cadia got inside for a bucket and a foul, hitting the free throw for the three-point play to make it a 19-14 contest. Olajuwon then cut to the rim for a score and Del Cadia split a pair of free throws to get within two, 19-17, midway through the period.

Two free throws from junior Jamail Pink made it a two-point game again at 21-19, but the Titans turned it over on their next two possessions as Purdue Fort Wayne extended it to 25-19. Olajuwon ended the half with a couple of layups as the red, white and blue trailed at the break, 34-29.

In the second half, the Mastodons took control with a 25-6 run in the first seven minutes, and the red, white, and blue could not recover. 

Detroit Mercy outworked Purdue Fort Wayne on the glass, 43-37, and held the home team to just 28.6% (8-of-28) from behind the arc. 

The Titans will now return home to host Green Bay on Thursday, Jan. 4. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m., and fans can purchase tickets by clicking here.

Game Notes:

• The two schools lie just 161 miles apart as the all-time series is now tied at 5-5, with the Titans 1-3 on the road
• 12 of the first 15 games for the Titans were on the road as they will now return home for nine of their next 14
• The Titans have now lost 16 in a row dating back to last season, a school record, surpassing the 15 straight between the end of the 1986-87 season and the start of 1987-88
• 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
• The three triples were the fewest since hitting three at Florida Atlantic last season
• The Titans have made double-digit free throws in seven straight games
• UDM won the battle of the glass for the fourth time this season
• Olajuwon had just 25 total points and 12 field goals entering the game with a high of four points twice
• Tankersley has now scored in double figures in 13 of the last 17 games 
• Del Cadia also had 16 points at Ole Miss, while his previous high in rebounds was 12 at NC State
• Del Cadia has now scored in double figures in seven games and has grabbed at least five rebounds in 11 of the 15 games this season
• 17 of Toatley's 41 field goals on the year have been from behind the arc
• Kuac scored his first point as a Titan at the free-throw line

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