DETROIT (11/18/2025) -- Senior Orlando Lovejoy tallied his 10th career 20-point game, but a second-half shooting slump was too much to overcome as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team fell 72-62 to Eastern Michigan on Tuesday.

Lovejoy ended with 20 points and six rebounds. Junior Ayden Carter had nine points, four rebounds, a block, and a steal, and freshman Keshawn Fisher added eight points and three boards. 

Eastern Michigan (2-2) got off to a quick 10-2 lead, but back came the Titans (1-4) as seven-straight points trimmed the deficit to 17-15. Carter then gave the Titans the lead at 22-21 as he grabbed an offensive rebound, went back up for the layup, and was fouled, connecting on the free throw.

Detroit Mercy continued to stay in front and was up by seven, 33-26, after two free throws from junior London Maiden. UDM then scored the last six points in the first half for a 39-30 advantage.

In the second half, Lovejoy hit two free throws and sophomore TJ Nadeau nailed a jumper for a 43-30 lead early in the period. 

Freshman Lance Stone's basket had UDM up by nine, 47-38, with 15:37 left, but then the offense stalled, and a seven-minute scoring drought saw the Eagles tie it at 47-47. Lovejoy put the Titans back ahead 50-47 off a bucket and free throw, but Eastern Michigan climbed back in front.

Back-to-back baskets by Lovejoy and Carter then tied the game at 58-58 at the 3:34 mark, but the Eagles ended the game on a 14-4 spurt.

Stone finished with seven points and three rebounds. Junior Nate Johnson had six points and four boards, and senior Legend Geeter added four points and three caroms.

The Titans were 17-of-18 at the free-throw line, but just 1-of-19 from the outside.

Detroit Mercy will now head to nationally-ranked Michigan State on Friday, with game time set for 6:30 p.m.

Game Notes:

• Detroit Mercy has dominated the series overall to the tune of a 60-22 advantage, but Eastern Michigan has now won six of the last eight
• The Titans are 32-9 all-time at home against the Eagles, but EMU has claimed the last four contests in Calihan Hall, with the last Titan win in front of their hometown fans, a 68-66 thriller in 2009
• Detroit Mercy's 60 wins over EMU is the most over any opponent in school history, while the 82 total games are the fourth-most against any foe in Titan history, behind Loyola (126), Xavier (95), and Marquette (88)
• Titan seniors Orlando Lovejoy and Legend Geeter played two seasons for Eastern Michigan from 2022-24, while assistant coach LaMonta Stone was an assistant coach there from 2021-24, while for EMU, senior Mak Manciel was with the Titans from 2023-25, and assistant coach Jay Smith was an assistant at Detroit Mercy for eight seasons from 2008-2016
• The last time the Titans hit just one 3-pointer was last season at Wright State, as UDM has now hit double-digit triples just four times in the last 69 games
• Detroit Mercy came into the game connecting on just 63.6% at the line on the year before tonight's 17-of-18 effort
• Lovejoy now has 20 career games with at least five rebounds

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