Gameday Central – Youngstown State
DETROIT (12/31/2015) -- When the clock strikes midnight tonight, we will be in 2016 and for the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team, the new year will bring on the Horizon League as the Titans host Youngstown State on Saturday, Jan. 2.
The game is part of a Titan doubleheader with the women hosting YSU at Noon before the men square off with the Penguins at 3:00 p.m. Both games will be televised locally on WADL as well as on ESPN3, with
Denny Kapp and Earl Cureton on the call for the men. The Voice of the Titans
Dan Leach will call all the action on the radio on 1270 AM and live stats will also be available.
It will be Youth Day at Calihan Hall and the first 100 kids will receive a free youth jersey.
This is the 37th year of the Horizon League (1979-80) and the 36th with Detroit as a member of the conference as the Titans are the eldest member of the league. Detroit is 239-261 all-time in the HL with two regular season championships (1998-tie, 1999) and three conference tournament titles (1994, 1999, 2012).
This is the start of a five-game homestand for Detroit with all five games against Horizon League teams.
For tickets, visit
Detroittitans.com/tix.
DETROIT VS. YOUNGSTOWN STATEDetroit has dominated the all-time series with a 30-9 advantage, which includes winning all three meetings last year and eight of the last nine.
The Titans are even better in the Motor City as they are 18-3 at home against the Penguins.
ABOUT THE PENGUINSYoungstown State has lost two in a row and four of its last five as the Penguins begin Horizon League play at 5-8. The last two losses have seen YSU play on the road at BCS schools Michigan and Notre Dame.
Youngstown State has also played two common opponents with Detroit falling to Toledo (100-78) and Bowling Green (79-72).
Cameron Morse leads the team and is among the top 10 in the Horizon League in scoring at 14.7 ppg. Matt Donlan is averaging 12.5 ppg., along with 4.1 rpg. A preseason All-HL pick, Bobby Hain is tallying 12.4 ppg., and a team-high 6.3 rpg., but is dealing with a foot injury that could keep him out.
Youngstown State is posting 74.2 points, but giving up 78.4.
HL SCHEDULE PUZZLEThe conference schedule is interesting considering the Titans play their first five league games at home and seven of their 10 contests in January on Dick Vitale Court.
Detroit will need to get off to a quick start as it ends the year with four-straight road games, as well as six of its final eight on the road.
PERFECT AT HOMEDetroit is undefeated at home this season at 6-0 and has won nine in a row on Dick Vitale Court dating back to last season.
During the streak, the Titans have a win over:
Cleveland State - who made the CIT last year
Valparaiso - the 2015 HL Champions
Youngstown State - in the HL Quarterfinals
Northeastern - the 2015 CAA Champions who had a win over No. 15 Miami on the year
Toledo - a 20 win team last season
Bowling Green - a 20 win team last year who came into the game winners of six in a row
UCF - a team out of the AAC
Since the start of the 2014-15 season, UDM is 16-6 at home.
WE LOVE THE 80'SDid you know that Detroit is a remarkable 51-5 overall when scoring 80 or more points under head coach
Ray McCallum.
The Titans are even better outside of the Horizon League where they have a 27-2 record when reaching 80 points.
Year-by-Year Mark When Reaching 802015-16 (4-1)
2014-15 (6-0)
2013-14 (3-2)
2012-13 (14-1)
2011-12 (9-0)
2010-11 (8-1)
2009-10 (7-0)
WHO WILL SCORE?Detroit has had five different Titans lead the team in scoring through 11 games.
UDM has also had six different players net 20 or more in a game and has had four or more players in double figures seven times.
The depth and team chemistry was evident in the win over Bowling Green as Detroit led by double digits in the second half before the team's leading scorer
Chris Jenkins even netted his first point on a free throw to make it 64-52 with 11:22 left.
OFFENSIVE ATTACKDetroit has scored at least 75 points in eight of its 11 games, including 88 or more five times. The lone three games it did not reach that amount was at then No. 16/13 Vanderbilt (52), at Western Kentucky (74) and at Eastern Michigan (73).
UDM has also made at least 30 field goals five times this season and has posted 39 baskets twice on the year.
Against UM-Dearborn, the Titans were 39-of-68 from the field (57.4%), including 15-of-27 (55.6%) from behind the arc and 29-of-39 (74.4%) at the free throw line.
It was the highest field goal percentage since finishing at 68.2 percent in a victory at Youngstown State last season.
The 29 free throws were the most since going 37-of-43 at the charity stripe against Stony Brook in a triple overtime game in 2013.
In the win over Toledo, Detroit shot 49.1 percent (27-of-55) from the field and 48.1 percent (13-of-27) from three with four players in double figures, while in the win over Bowling Green, the Titans shot 47.1 percent (32-of-68) with 13 triples.
In the win over UCF, the Titans shot 51.7 percent (30-of-58), including 58.3 percent (14-of-24) in the second half.
POINTS, POINTS, POINTSThe Titans have had a great start to the year offensively as they are 28th in the nation - and second in the HL - in scoring averaging 84.0 points per game (as of Dec. 30).
The Titans have also scored 90 or more points four times this year, the most since registering 90 or more four times during the 2011-12 campaign.
PROTECT THE ROCKThe Titans committed 25 turnovers in the season opener, but still came away with a win.
Since that game, Detroit has turned it over just 127 times in the last 10 outings, an average of 12.7 per contest.
BLOCK PARTYThe Titans have recorded four or more blocks eight times this year, and they are second in the Horizon League and 78th in the nation with 4.6 blocks per game.
That is all without a single athlete on the roster taller than 6-8.
BOMBS AWAYDetroit was 15-of-27 from three against UM-Dearborn on Nov. 23, the most since knocking down 15 against DePaul in 2007.
UDM also tallied double-digit triples:
11 against Central State
11 at nationally-ranked Vanderbilt
13 versus Toledo
13 against Bowling Green
12 versus UCF
11 at Western Kentucky
Last year, UDM hit 10 or more 3-pointers just three times all season.
The Titans are currently 12th in the nation in three-point field-goal percentage (41.8%) and 11th in three-point field goals per game (10.5), Horizon League bests in both categories.
BASS IS BACKSophomore
Paris Bass - who missed the first seven games due to a suspension for violation of team rules - returned in a big way for the Titans against Bowling Green.
The reigning HL Freshman of the Year posted a team-high 25 points - tying his career best going 9-of-15 from the field - while tallying eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. In his second game, he tallied 23 points in just 21 minutes of action in a win over UCF.
It was the first time he recorded back-to-back 20-point games in his career.
Dating back to last season, he has three 20 point games in his last 10 outings as he tallied a career-high 28 points at Oakland last season.
BASS NAMED TO LOU HENSON AWARD WATCH LIST Paris Bass was named to the Lou Henson Award Preseason Watch List, announced by the organization in early November.
The sophomore was one of nearly 40 outstanding mid-major college players to earn the Preseason All-America recognition, which is presented annually to the top Mid-Major player in Division I college basketball.
He is also the LONE underclassman to garner the honor.
The award is named in honor of Henson, who retired after a spectacular coaching career that lasted 41 years. When he left the game in 2005, he was sixth all-time in career Division I wins with 779. He is the winningest coach at both Illinois and New Mexico State and is one of only 12 coaches in the history of the game to take two schools to the Final Four.
A HELPING HANDSophomore
Paris Bass tied his career high with five assists at Western Kentucky.
He now has 14 assists in four games, and that is after dishing out 62 last season in 33 games.
DOUBLE-UP CHRISJunior
Chris Jenkins has scored in double figures eight times already, which includes two 20-point games, a career high in points and three double-doubles.
He had a career-high 26 points with 10 rebounds, three steals and two assists in the win over UCF.
He has also tallied 17 points and 11 rebounds against Toledo - where he also has a career-best four blocks, and that came after tallying 14 points and six rebounds in the win over Northeastern.
At No. 16/13 Vanderbilt, he netted 11 points hitting three 3-pointers and registered a career-high four steals. At Oral Roberts, Jenkins had 16 points and a career-tying 13 rebounds, and he started the streak with a then career-high 25 points against UM-Dearborn.
He is currently leading the team and is seventh in the HL in scoring (14.3), while standing fourth on the team and seventh in the league in field-goal percentage (51.0%).
He is also among the team leaders and the top 10 in the Horizon League in:
Rebounding (7.1) - 7th
3-point field-goal percentage (45.0%) - 6th
Free throw percentage (85.4%) - 3rd
HIGH-SCORING ROOKIEFreshman
Josh McFolley has scored in double figures in eight of his 10 games, including a season-high 20-points in the victory over
Northeastern, 19 at Eastern Michigan and 16 in the win versus Toledo.
He was 8-of-15 against the Huskies and 6-of-11 against the Rockets. He also had three steals versus UT, including a steal with 21 seconds left that led to a layup to help seal the win.
He is currently third on the team with 13.4 ppg. - second among HL rookies (Dikembe Dixson, UIC, 14.3) - while leading all freshmen in field-goal percentage (44.0%) and three-point field goals per game (2.8) and second in three-point field goal percentage (43.1%).
RINGING THE THREEFreshman
Josh McFolley's last three games have seen him make 14 field goals (14-of-34), 13 of which have been from three (13-of-26).
He is currently second on the team with 28 three-point field goals and third in the HL, 62nd in the nation, with 2.8 per game.
JA-LETHALSophomore
Jaleel Hogan has been in double figures six times so far on the year and had his first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in the win over Bowling Green. He also had two assists and two blocks.
He recorded a career-high 16 points at Pittsburgh as he was a career-best 7-of-12 from the field with five rebounds.
He then had a 15-points - in just 15 minutes of action due to foul trouble - at Oral Roberts, where he was 7-of-11 from the field.
He is currently third on the team with 4.5 rebounds per game and fourth with 9.4 points per game, all while shooting 55.3 percent, second in the HL.
PAINT MANWith his strength, sophomore
Jaleel Hogan is uncanny in the paint showcased by his career 59.1 (104-of-176) field-goal percentage.
Last season, he ended the year with a blistering 62.0 field goal percentage (62-of-100), which would rank third in school history for a single season, but was 25 shot attempts shy from qualifying for that mark.
GETTING HOT EARLYSenior
Anton Wilson recorded his third career 20-point game as he led Detroit with 20 markers at Pittsburgh on Nov. 20.
He scored all 20 of his points in the first 20 minutes of play, the first Titan to score 20 in the first half since Nick Minnerath had 21 against Valparaiso on Jan. 17, 2013.
It was also one point off his career high of 21 set against UM-Dearborn in 2013.
Wilson now has 10 double-digit scoring games on the year and has scored exactly 13 points in three-straight games.
He is currently second on the team in scoring at 13.6 ppg., with a team-high 33 treys along with 3.9 rebounds, fourth on the team.
TRIPLE 3 SPECIALITYSenior
Anton Wilson started the season with back-to-back games hitting four 3-pointers, and he added another game with four treys nailing four at #16/13 Vanderbilt. He recently hit a season-high five 3-pointers against Bowling Green, one away from his career best.
He now has 14 career game with four or more treys.
He also has 73 career games with at least two 3-pointers and 25 games knocking down at least three triples.
#1 SHOOTING 3'SSharpshooting senior
Anton Wilson continues to make his name show up in the Titan record books.
He shot 41.8 percent from behind the arc last season, a number that ranks sixth in school history as he was 56-of-134 from long distance.
This season, he is hitting the three at 44.0 percent (33-of-75).
With his four triples in the season opener, he passed Titan legend and 12-year NBA veteran Willie Green and is now seventh in school history with 152 career 3-pointers.
He is also fifth in UDM history with a 40.9 career three-point field goal percentage.
Titan Career 3-Point Field Goal Leaders1. Rashad Phillips, 1998-01 - 348
2. Desmond Ferguson, 1998-00 - 235
3. Dwayne Kelley, 1990-93 - 224
4. Jon Goode, 2005-08 - 202
5. Greg Grays, 2001-02 - 169
6. Michael Jackson, 1992-95 - 157
7.
Anton Wilson, 2012-pre. - 152
Titan Career 3-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders1. Archie Tullos, 1985-88 - .433
2. Bill Wood, 1987-90 - .415
3. Tony Tolbert, 1993-94 - .409
Jon Goode, 2005-08 - .409
5.
Anton Wilson, 2012-pre. - .408
6. Derrick Hayes, 1997-98 - .405
EASY POINTSSenior
Anton Wilson is a career 82.4 percent shooter at the free throw line connecting on 84-of-102 career attempts.
He does not have enough free throw attempts to qualify for the school record book, or his career percentage would rank fourth.
GERALD'S CASEFreshman
Gerald Blackshear has had an excellent start to his career and had a career night posting 12 points and five rebounds with a block in the win over Northeastern.
In his collegiate debut, he posted a game-high 10 rebounds to go with six points, three assists, three steals and a block against Central State and just tied his career high with 10 boards at Eastern Michigan.
Some other good games include, seven boards with three blocks against UM-Dearborn, seven caroms with seven points at Oral Roberts, six rebounds at #16/13 Vanderbilt and six points and seven boards in just 15 minutes in the win over UCF.
Blackshear is second on the team and 15th in the Horizon League in rebounding at 5.3 per game.
TOTAL CONTROLSenior
Carlton Brundidge has run the offense with excellence so far shown by his 1.9-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio on the year, fifth in the HL.
He has 29 assists against just 15 turnovers.
WHAT A DEBUTFreshman
Josh McFolley didn't have to wait long before he made an impact as he scored the first basket of the year for the Titans and led Detroit with 17 points in the season-opening victory over Central State.
McFolley was 7-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-8 from three, finishing with a team-high 17 points in just 26 minutes.
He is the first Detroit netter to lead his team in scoring in his Titan debut since sophomore Chase Simon had 17 at California in 2009. He is also the first freshman to lead the team in scoring in his collegiate debut since Jerry Davis had 18 against Toledo in 1978.
On Nov. 23, he was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Week after notching 17 against CSU and eight at Pittsburgh, and he earned the honor again on Dec. 7 after posting 20 points in a win over Northeastern.
AFS SIGHTINGRedshirt freshman
Aaron Foster-Smith had seen limited playing time of late, but he was able to produce when called upon as he scored five points and tied his season high with six rebounds and two blocks at Eastern Michigan.
He started his career with nine points, two rebounds and two blocks against Central State and netted a season-best 22 points with six caroms versus UM-Dearborn.
He is currently shooting 51.2 percent (22-of-43), including 8-of-18 from three (44.4%).
