HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY. (2/10/2024) -- Senior
Jayden Stone and sophomore
Marcus Tankersley each tallied 24 points, but a couple of NKU runs were too much to overcome as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball fell, 79-67, on Saturday afternoon at Truist Arena.
Stone - who came into the game leading the Horizon League in scoring at 20.3 points per game - made seven of his last nine attempts and was 9-of-20 overall with six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. Tankersley was 11-of-17 shooting with two rebounds, two assists and two steals, while graduate senior
Edoardo Del Cadia had 13 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
The Titans (0-26, 0-15 HL) had an early lead, but NKU (13-12, 8-6 HL) went on a 14-2 spurt in the first half en route to a 35-23 lead at the break. In the second, the Norse led by 18, 46-28, at the 15:43 mark when the Titans went on a 10-0 spurt to cut it to just eight, 46-38.
Tankersley started the run with a drive to the rim, and then Del Cadia got inside for a layup and was fouled, connecting on the free throw. The next time down the floor, Del Cadia had another bucket with the foul for his second-straight three-point play, and after an NKU miss, Stone was hacked and made two free throws for the 46-38 margin with 13:36 remaining.
The Norse answered with a 12-2 outburst to take control of the contest, eventually pushing the lead to 19, 61-42, with 8:11 left. The Titans kept chipping away, making it a 13-point deficit a few times and cutting it down to 12, 72-60, with 2:23 left after back-to-back baskets by Stone.
Graduate senior
Emmanuel Kuac had two points, three rebounds, a block, and a steal. Senior
Kyle LeGreair added two points, three rebounds and a steal, and junior
Tobin Schwannecke registered two points, two rebounds and a steal.
Detroit Mercy shot 47.5% for the game, including 66.7% in the second half, while forcing 14 NKU turnovers. The Titans also had six steals and tied their season-high with six blocks.
Back-to-back layups by Kuac and Stone had the Titans up 4-2 and Stone would drill a three for a 7-5 lead just four minutes in. The Titans had an 11-8 lead as LeGreair had an offensive rebound and putback and Del Cadia hit a jumper with 13:39 on the clock.
On the next offensive possession, Del Cadia was fouled and split a pair for a 12-8 advantage, but NKU would then go on a 14-0 charge over the next five minutes for a 22-12 margin with 7:18 left. Del Cadia ended that with a layup and Schwannecke came up with a steal and bucket to trim it to 22-16, but the Norse went into the break up 35-23.
Detroit Mercy will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 14, as the red, white and blue host IUPUI at Calihan Hall. Tip-off on Valentine's Day is set for 7:00 p.m., and tickets start at just $10 by clicking here.
Game Notes:
- The Titans have dropped five in a row and seven of the last nine as NKU leads the all-time series, 15-4, including 9-2 at home
- The Titans are averaging 72.9 points in their last nine games after tallying just 60.1 in their first 17 games.
- UDM has shot over 45.0% nine times this season, including the last four games
- Detroit Mercy has forced double-digit turnovers in 17 games this season
- The Titans came into the game fifth in the HL with 6.8 steals per game
- UDM also had six blocks against Oakland
- Stone now has 11, 20-point games on the season
- Stone has now played in 33 career games with the Titans and has netted 20 or more 16 times, been in double figures 26 times, grabbed five or more rebounds on 23 occasions, including 16 times this year, and recorded three double-doubles
- Tankersley now has eight 20-point efforts on the season
- Dating back to last season, Tankersley has now scored in double figures in 23 of the last 28 games
- Del Cadia has three double-doubles on the year
- Del Cadia has now scored in double figures in 12 games and has grabbed at least five rebounds in 15
- Schwannecke's other basket on the year came against Milwaukee
- LeGreair now has a steal in 10 of the last 13 games and 16 on the season
