DETROIT (2/1/2024) -- Senior Jayden Stone led four Titans in double figures with a game-high 28 points, but Cleveland State had one last run that was the difference as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell, 77-65, on Thursday night at Calihan Hall.

Stone was 11-of-21 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers and added five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Graduate senior Edoardo Del Cadia recorded 11 points, nine rebounds and two steals and junior Mak Manciel and sophomore Marcus Tankersley netted 10 apiece. 

The Titans (0-23, 0-12 HL) trailed by as many as 14 in the second half, but cut it to one possession on a few occasions.

Down 47-33 with 16:32 left, UDM went on a 14-2 charge over four minutes to get within two at 49-47. Detroit Mercy started with seven straight to cut the deficit in half as Stone had back-to-back baskets and Tankersley rang in a 3-pointer. After a Cleveland State (14-9, 7-5 HL) bucket, the Titans rode another 7-0 spurt as freshman Michael Oaks and Stone had layups followed by a triple from Stone. 

The Vikings then led by seven, 59-52, with 9:18 on the clock when Stone got inside for a basket and then the next time down the floor hit a jumper and was fouled, connecting on the free throw to make it a 59-57 contest. Detroit Mercy also trailed by two at 61-59 after Stone hit a jumper with 7:09 remaining, but the team saw CSU end the game on a 16-6 run. 

Tankersley also grabbed five rebounds and Oaks ended with a season-high six points, two rebounds and two blocks. 

Detroit Mercy shot 46.2% from the field, including 56.0% in the second half. 

The early part of the game featured nine lead changes and five ties. Manciel opened the game with a three and a three-point play by Del Cadia had the team up 6-2. 

Del Cadia then got free inside buckets on back-to-back possessions for a 10-4 lead just three minutes in. Cleveland State came back to knot it at 10-10 and it was also tied at 12-12 and 16-16 midway through the half. 

Stone would put the Titans ahead at 19-17 with a three at the 9:25 mark and later on, he came up with a steal and found Oaks inside for a score and it was 21-20 with 8:18 to go. Oaks also had an offensive rebound and putback to make it 23-22 and Tankersley split a pair at the line as the game was tied at 24-all with under six minutes left, but CSU ended the half on a 16-6 spurt for a 40-30 advantage at the break. 

Detroit Mercy will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 3, as the red, white and blue host Robert Morris at 1:00 p.m. 

Game Notes:

• The Titans lead the all-time series, 47-31, and are 31-6 at home
• UDM was averaging 74.8 points in its last five games coming into tonight
• The Titans have made double-digit free throws in 14 of the last 17 games, going 212-of-275 (77.0%) in that span
• Detroit Mercy had four players in double figures for the third time this season and for the second-straight game
• Stone has now played in 30 career games with the Titans and has netted 20 or more 14 times, been in double figures 23 times, and has grabbed five or more rebounds on 21 occasions, including 14 of the 17 games he has seen action in this year, and has recorded three double-doubles 
• Dating back to last season, Tankersley has now scored in double figures in 20 of the last 25 games 
• Del Cadia has now scored in double figures in 10 games and has grabbed at least five rebounds in 14
• Oaks' season-high was five points at Loyola Marymount in his season debut
• Abdullah Olajuwon had two blocks for the third time this season

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