DETROIT (10/24/2025) -- All 14 Titans played and UDM took an early lead and never looked back as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team posted an 86-70 victory over Grand Valley State in an exhibition match-up on Friday in Calihan Hall.

The Titans shot 52.6% from the field (30-of-57) and 52.0% from three (13-of-25), while holding the Lakers to 33.3% overall (25-of-75) and 7-of-31 from deep. Detroit Mercy also outrebounded GVSU, 51-36, and registered 18 assists and eight blocks.

Sophomore TJ Nadeau led the way with 17 points, going 6-of-7 from the field and 4-of-5 from three. Senior Orlando Lovejoy had 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while redshirt freshman Tyler Spratt added 13 points, three boards, two assists, and two blocks.

The win marked the first preseason victory for the Titans since 2018, as the red, white, and blue entered the game just 1-5 in exhibition contests since 2015. 

Detroit Mercy started the game with back-to-back triples from Nadeau and Spratt. The Titans opened a double-digit advantage midway through the first as Lovejoy hit a jumper and Nadeau buried a three for a 26-14 lead.

Later on, Lovejoy hit a three, and after two free throws from freshman Keshawn Fisher, he came away with a steal, and that set up another three ball from Spratt and a 38-21 lead with 3:18 left in the half. 

The Titans were up 45-30 at the break, but Grand Valley would hang around, cutting the margin to 12 on a few occasions. Nadeau helped seal the win with a couple of more triples in the second half, his final one giving UDM a 68-52 lead with 7:24 left. Senior Legend Geeter then had a bucket inside, and a steal and layup from junior Ayden Carter had the Titans up by 20, 72-52.

Senior Jared Lary connected on a three to get the Titans into the 80's, and sophomore Nate Johnson would also ring one in with less than two minutes remaining to cement a hot-shooting night. 

Carter tallied 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 night with a pair of 3-pointers to go with four rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Fisher had eight points, four rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and a steal, and sophomore Johnson grabbed a team-high eight caroms. 

Detroit Mercy will have one final tune-up before the regular season begins as the Titans play Central State in the 1st Annual Horatio Williams Foundation Hoops & Culture Event next Thursday, Oct. 30, at 5:00 p.m. The event will be held at Wayne State, and tickets are $20, which guarantees attendance to all four games that day. Fans can purchase tickets here. 

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