YPSILANTI (11/30/2024) -- Six Titans scored in double figures, led by redshirt freshman Grant Gondrezick II 's season-high 22 points, as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team turned away the Eastern Michigan Eagles, 98-89, in overtime on Saturday night.

The Titans (4-5) led for much of the contest and by as many as 13 points in the second half, but Eastern Michigan (5-3) came back to take the lead late in the game. Junior Orlando Lovejoy sent the battle to overtime with a driving layup in regulation, and UDM scored the first 10 points in the extra session to secure the win.

Gondrezick II also had a season-high seven rebounds, three assists and a steal as he was 7-of-14 from the field, 2-of-4 from three and 6-of-7 at the charity stripe. Lovejoy added 18 points, a season-tying seven assists, and three steals, and junior Legend Geeter tied his career-best with 14 points, three boards, three assists, and a steal.

Freshman TJ Nadeau registered a season-high 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting, 2-for-2 from long range and 4-of-4 at the line. Freshman Nate Johnson scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds and graduate senior Emmanuel Kuac netted 10 points and pulled down five caroms.

Detroit Mercy led by eight, 60-52, with under 10 minutes left, but EMU tied the game at 67-67 and 69-69 before tipping in an offensive rebound for a 72-71 lead with 3:05 left. Nadeau quickly put the Titans back in front with a jumper and the lead was 75-72 with 1:55 remaining after Geeter hit a pair from the line.

The Eagles came back again and were able to jump in front, 77-75, with 20 seconds on the clock after hitting a three, but after a timeout, Lovejoy drove to the rim and scored with a few ticks left, and the game went into overtime knotted at 77-all.

Gondrezick II started the extra frame by getting to the basket for a layup and was fouled, connecting on the free throw. After a turnover, Lovejoy got to the rim for a score, and Geeter followed with a layup for an 84-77 advantage at the 3:15 mark. The Titan defense forced another miss, leading to Nadeau's triple for a 10-point lead.

The Titans then connected on all nine of their free throw attempts down the stretch to hold off any chance of an Eagles' comeback.

The Titans shot a season-best 54.9% (34-of-62), including 9-of-14 (64.3%) from behind the arc and 21-of-24 (87.5%) at the free-throw line. They outrebounded the Eagles 33-31 and forced 14 turnovers, recording nine steals and 17 assists.

UDM got off to a strong start as Johnson nailed a three and a layup from Lovejoy had the team up 5-0. Later on, five straight points from Gondrezick II and a short jumper from Johnson had the team ahead, 17-9.

A three from junior Jared Lary and off a steal from freshman Stephen Okoro, Lary hit a floater to open a double-digit lead at 22-12 with six minutes to go in the first as the Titans took a 33-25 lead at the break.

In the second, the Titans stayed in front as a three-point play by Geeter and a basket from Nadeau extended the lead to 13, 55-42, with 11:46 left when EMU started to chip away.

Detroit Mercy will now enter Horizon League play as it opens at home against Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday, with game time set for 1:00 p.m.

Game Notes

• Detroit Mercy now leads the all-time series against EMU 60-21, including 28-12 on the road
• The 81 total games are the fourth most against any foe in Titan history, following Loyola (126), Xavier (95), and Marquette (88), while the 59 wins are the most against any opponent in the record book
• Tonight's game was just the third time in series history that the Eagles and Titans needed overtime, with the most recent in 2010-11, when the Titans came away with the 68-65 victory in Ypsilanti as UDM is now 3-1 in those extra session affairs
• The Titans improved to 186-131 all-time against members of the MAC, including a 2-1 mark this season
• The 98 points were the most since posting 99 in two overtimes at Robert Morris last year
• Detroit Mercy also defeated Niagara in overtime this season, giving the Titans two triumphs in extra play since earning two victories in 2014-14 (wins at Northeastern and home versus Youngstown State)
• The last time UDM had six players in double figures was against UM-Dearborn in 2022
• The Titans' 21 free throws tied a season-high with the 21-of-29 effort against Niagara
• The 17 assists were the second most on the year after the 19 against Cleary and the most against a DI team since collecting 18 at Oakland last season
• UDM's 54.8% shooting was the best since hitting on 59.6% (31-of-52) at Wright State last year
• UDM outrebounded the Eagles, 33-31, as the Titans entered the contest averaging 43.9 rebounds per game as a team and have only been outrebounded once this season against Rhode Island. 
• Gondrezick's previous career-high of five points came in the season opener against Cleary and he had just 16 total points on the year coming into the game
• Johnson reached double-figures for the second time this season and second time in his career, the first coming earlier this year at Loyola Chicago when he had 13
• Geeter tallied double-figures for the second straight game and also had 14 points against Niagara
• Lovejoy reached double-figures for the 22nd time in his career and fifth time in the last six games
• Lovejoy tied a season-high with seven assists, as he also had seven assists against Rhode Island and now has 27 assists in the last six games
• Nadeau reached double figures for the fourth time this year