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Riding a three-game winning streak, the Detroit men's basketball team will spend New Year's in Chicago as Horizon League play resumes with the Titans facing UIC on Thursday. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (EST).

The game will be broadcast live on the Horizon League Network, while a live stats feed of the event can be viewed through CSTV'S gametracker. Both links are available on top of the page.

UDM is 9-4 after cruising past Shawnee State, 82-53. The contest showcased the Titans' tough defense with the red, white and blue posting 17 blocked shots. Sophomore Eli Holman tallied his fifth double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds, while swatting away a career-best six shots. The Titans are already 2-0 in the Horizon League after sweeping the opening week of conference play in early December with wins over Youngstown and Cleveland State.

Since starting the year at 1-6, UIC has won three of its last five games and stands at 4-8 after defeating Toledo, 66-52, on Tuesday night. The Flames have won four of their five home games on the season.
Robo Kreps is UIC's top scorer at 15.3 ppg., good for sixth in the Horizon League. Jeremy Buttell is tallying 8.9 ppg., and a team-high 6.1 rpg., while Spencer Stewart is handing out 5.2 apg., which would lead the league except he missed five games at the start of the year due to disciplinary reasons.

TAKING THE ROCK AWAY
UDM opponents have averaged 25 turnovers in the last two games, with Shawnee State committing 24 and Central Michigan 26. Against CMU, the Titan defense forced six straight at one point in the first half during a 17-0 run that erased an 11-point deficit. 

This season, Detroit's defense has forced 20+ turnovers in six games, and 15 or more in 10 games. With those miscues, the Titans have recorded a +50 margin in points off turnovers netting 237 total points.

DETROIT VS. UIC
Detroit leads the overall series, 20-12, including an 9-7 tally in Chicago, but UIC has won two in a row and four of the last five meetings.

DOMINATING WIN
The Titans' last tune-up before heading back into conference play proved to be a huge triumph as Detroit rolled past Shawnee State, 82-53. The 29-point margin was the largest since defeating Western Illinois, 98-61, in 2003.

WELCOME BACK EATMON
Junior college transfer Curtis Eatmon returned from what some thought was a season-ending injury to make his first appearance of the season against Shawnee State. Eatmon recorded four points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal in 11 minutes of action. 

He was hurt in the Titans' first exhibition game after suffering severe facial and an eye injury after being hit in the face battling for a loose ball.

TITANS HOSTING A BLOCK PARTY
Detroit blocked 17 shots its last time out against Shawnee State and that proved to be a record setting number. 

It broke the Horizon League mark of 16 that was held by Marquette over Butler on Feb. 2, 1991. 

It tied a school record established on Feb. 15, 1978, when Detroit had 17 against WMU. 

It also tied Marshall for the second most blocks by a NCAA Division I team this season following Rutgers' 18 it had over St. Peter's.

OWNING THE PAINT
With the addition of Eli Holman and the return of Xavier Keeling, most people figured that Detroit would score more in the paint. On the year, the Titans have netted 412 points, an average of 31.6 per game.