MADISON, Wisc. (12/22/2024) -- Junior Orlando Lovejoy and redshirt freshman Grant Gondrezick II each had 20 points, but Wisconsin was too strong at home as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell, 76-53, at the Kohl Center on Sunday afternoon.

Lovejoy was 9-of-20 from the field with four rebounds, three assists and a steal, while redshirt freshman Grant Gondrezick was 8-of-18 from the field and 3-of-4 from three, with three rebounds.

It was the second career 20-point game for each player. 

The game was the final non-conference contest for UDM, who will now play nothing but Horizon League games after Christmas break.

The Titans (5-9) trailed 39-26 at the halftime break, but were unable to draw any closer to the Badgers (9-3). 

Wisconsin went ahead 11-6 at the first media break, before opening up a 10-point advantage at the under 8 media timeout. It was at this point the Titans went on a nearly five minute scoring drought, struggling to find a bucket. That eventually ended when Lovejoy hit back-to-back jumpers. 

The Badgers led 30-17 at the under 4 media timeout, before going ahead 39-26 into the halftime break. Lovejoy and Gondrezick scored all but three points in the first half, with the other three points coming courtesy of Nate Johnson. 

The second half Wisconsin mainly was on cruise control, leading by 20 at the first media break, and leading by as many as 32 points overall in the final 20 minutes. Wisconsin native Peter Fuchs Jr. had a solid second half for the Titans, scoring six points. 

UDM as a team shot 22-of-66 from the field, 4-of-8 from three-point range, and was 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. 

For Lovejoy, it was the 10th time this year he reached double figures, while for Gondrezick it was the sixth game in a row he was in double figures. 

Detroit Mercy will have a week off before returning to #HLMBB action next Sunday at Youngstown State. Tip-off between the Titans and Penguins is set for 2:00 PM. 

Game Notes:

• The Titans have dropped all four meetings with Wisconsin, all on the road
• The Titans are 30-124 all-time against the Big Ten Conference, including 12-82 on the road, but have dropped 19 in a row against the league, with the last win at Michigan State, 68-65, on Dec. 13, 1997
• The five free throws were the fewest since going 4-of-10 at Toledo in 2023
• Lovejoy's other 20-point game was his career-high 28 against Rhode Island earlier in the season
• Gondrezick II's other 20-point game was his season-high 22 in a win at EMU
• Mitchell now has 21 rebounds in his last three games
• Fuchs, Jr.'s season-high was seven against Tulsa

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