Game Notes vs. Youngstown State

Horizon League Network

Off to a 4-2 start on the year, Detroit will look to begin conference play on the same high note as the Titans host Youngstown State on Thursday in the Horizon League opener for both teams. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m., inside Calihan Hall.

The contest can be seen live on the Horizon League Network, while fans can also catch all the action through CSTV's gametracker. Both links are available on top of the page.

The Titans saw their four game winning streak come to an end on Saturday as Detroit dropped a tough 68-66 decision to DePaul in overtime. UDM fought back twice from double-digit deficits to force overtime, but was unable to pull out the victory. Thomas Kennedy led four Titans in double figures with 17 points.

Youngstown State has split their first six games of the year and is coming off a loss themselves to a BIG EAST team falling to Pittsburgh, 72-56, last Saturday. The Penguins are averaging 68.5 points per game, led by senior guard DeAndre Mays' 11.7.


DETROIT VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATE
The Titans are 18-7 all-time against the Penguins. They opened the series winning 17 of the first 19 match-ups, but have since dropped five of the last six to YSU, although Detroit did pull out a 68-64 overtime victory on the road the last time these two teams met. 

UDM is 12-2 in the Motor City against Youngstown State, but the Penguins have won the last two by a total of six points.

LAST YEAR'S MATCH-UP
Youngstown State seemed to bring out the best of the Titan offense a year ago as two of Detroit's four highest scoring games came against the Penguins, including their season-high 78 points in a tough 80-78 setback on New Years. UDM also downed YSU, 68-64 in overtime on the road.

HOME SWEET HOME
This week's two league games at Calihan Hall begin a stretch in which the Titans will play six of seven at home after opening with five of their first six on the road or at neutral sites. Even their one away game is a short journey to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan.

LEE GETTING IT GOING
A new school and a new role can always get someone off to a slow start, but junior Lamar Lee is coming off his best game as a Titan, scoring a season-high 13 points at DePaul. In the first four games of the season, Lee averaged 3.2 ppg., while shooting 4-of-23 from the field (17%) and 3-of-17 from three (17%). 

In the last two games, the point guard is tallying 10.5 ppg., on 44% shooting (8-of-18), including 5-of-13 (38%) from behind the arc.

HORIZON LEAGUE LEADERS
Four Titans are among the HL leaders heading into the first week of conference play. 

Eli Holman - currently leads the league in rebounding at 10.3 per game, as well as field goal percentage (.589) and blocks (2.2). He is also 12th in the league in scoring at 14.5 ppg. 

Chase Simon - is tied for 10th in assists (3.0), 13th in rebounding (5.0), 14th in scoring (13.7) and seventh in minutes played (32.3). 

Xavier Keeling - is tied for eighth in field-goal percentage (50%) and 17th in scoring with 13.2 points per game. 

Woody Payne - is second in the HL with 2.3 steals and is 12th with 2.8 assists per game.

ELI, WOODY AMONG NCAA LEADERS
As of the latest NCAA statics, released on Monday, Nov. 30, Sophomore Eli Holman is 33rd in the country in rebounds (10.3), 53rd in field-goal percentage (58.9) and 59th in blocked shots (2.2). 

Senior Woody Payne is 63rd in the country with 2.3 steals per game.