DETROIT (11/17/14) – The rivalry between the University of Detroit Mercy and Oakland University, the Metro Series, will get a boost from the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (MSHOF) and PASS Charters, announced Director of Athletics Robert C. Vowels, Jr. on Monday. The winner of the Metro Series will get $10,000 in scholarship funding and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Cup will be awarded to the winning teams between men's basketball and women's basketball.
 
"We are excited to have PASS Charters and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame on board with us to help support this growing rivalry," said Vowels. "The addition of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Cup will help increase brand awareness for the Metro Series and both schools. We are very fortunate to have gentlemen like PASS Charters owner Bill Larkin and Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director Jim Stark by our side to help see this through."
 
The Titans and Golden Grizzlies are currently tied 4-4 in the Metro Series through the fall competition. Oakland opened the rivalry with a thrilling 2-1 double-overtime victory in men's soccer in Detroit, but the Titans rebounded with a 2-1 overtime win in women's soccer. Detroit and Oakland then split the cross country competition at the Horizon League Championships, with the Titans men's team winning its second-straight League Championship. The next clash between Detroit and Oakland will be in men's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 10, for a 3 p.m. tip inside Calihan Hall.
 
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Cup will be awarded separately for the men's basketball and women's basketball teams. In an event of a tie for the inaugural season, the squad that finishes with the highest ranking inside the RPI will win the cup. For the following seasons, the team that wins the cup the previous year will retain the cup.
 
"The Hall of Fame is pleased and honored to be officially represented in the expanding basketball rivalry between Oakland University and the University of Detroit Mercy," said Jim Stark. "With its long history of sports success, UDM has several distinguished alumni in our Hall including hoop legends Bob Calihan and Dave DeBusschere. Oakland is creating a growing legacy of its own under Greg Kampe, who was a finalist for our 2015 Class of Inductees. We look forward to a spirited competition between both the men's and women's teams for the new MSHOF Cup!"
 
A look at the basketball matchups:
Jan. 10 - Oakland at Detroit, 3 p.m. - Calihan Hall (men's basketball) – WADL-TV/ESPN3
Jan. 22 – Oakland at Detroit, 7 p.m. – Calihan Hall (women's basketball) – ESPN3
Feb. 15 – Detroit at Oakland, 3 p.m. – O'rena – TV20/Comcast 900/ESPN3
MSHOF Cup awarded
Feb. 18 – Detroit at Oakland, 7 p.m. – O'rena – Comcast 900/ESPN3
MSHOF Cup awarded