CHICAGO (11/7/2024) -- Senior
Mak Manciel scored a game-high 16 points, and freshman
Nate Johnson added 13, but Loyola went on a run in the first half, and the Titans couldn't catch up as the University of Detroit Mercy fell on the road, 87-65, on Thursday night.
Junior
Orlando Lovejoy added nine points, five rebounds, three assists and a career-high five steals, while freshman
TJ Nadeau netted eight points.
Manciel had some early offense for the Titans (1-1) as he scored seven of the first nine points as his triple tied the game at 9-9 early on. After a Loyola (2-0) turnover, freshman
Ryan Kalambay got inside for a layup, and it was 11-9 Titans just five minutes into the game.
A few minutes later, freshman
Stephen Okoro had an offensive rebound and putback, and UDM trailed by just two, 16-14. The Ramblers then went on a 15-3 run to take a double-digit lead, and Detroit Mercy could not recover.
Graduate senior
Emmanuel Kuac drilled a three to end that run, but the Titans went into the break down 50-33.
In the second half, Johnson had an early offensive rebound and tip-in and then rang in a three to cut it to 14, 52-38. The Titans also pulled within 14 at 67-53 as Manciel got inside for a layup and was fouled, connecting on the free throw with 13:00 minutes remaining.
A couple of free throws by Lovejoy and then Okoro split a pair to trim the deficit to 13, 69-56, midway through the period, but that was as close as Detroit Mercy would get.
Okoro had a team-high six rebounds. Junior
Jared Lary registered three points, four boards, two assists, and a block, and Kuac finished with seven points.
The Titans outrebounded the Ramblers, 40-39, recording 20 offensive rebounds in the process. UDM held Loyola to 26.7% from three, including 1-of-10 in the second half, and came away with seven steals.
The Titans will be back at home on Sunday as the red, white and blue welcome Niagara in a 1:00 p.m., tip at Calihan Hall. Tickets start at just $10 and can be
purchased here. It will be our Salute to Veterans, as all active and former military members can receive free tickets at the door.
Game Notes:
- Detroit Mercy had won the last 10 meetings over Loyola before the Ramblers left the Horizon League
- Loyola leads the all-time series, 68-58, and is 46-16 all-time at home
- The 126 match-ups with Loyola are the most in school history, as the two schools were conference rivals from the 1980-81 season to 2012-13 in the Horizon League, while the 58 wins over the Ramblers are the second most behind the 59 against Eastern Michigan
- Loyola Athletic Director Steve Watson's dad, John, played for the Titans from 1962-65 under head coach Bob Calihan. He played in 79 games and averaged 7.9 points and 3.8 rebounds, helping the Titans tie a then-school record with 20 wins in 1964-65. U-D won its first-ever game in the postseason, defeating La Salle 93-86 before falling to NYU in the NIT
- The Titans' 20 offensive boards were the most since pulling down 22 against IUPUI in 2023
- Lovejoy's previous high in steals was four at NIU last season while at Eastern Michigan
- Lovejoy's five steals were the most since Jayden Stone had six against Ball State last year
- Manciel now has nine double-figure outings in his last 17 games, while his career-high is 20 at Wright State last year
