DETROIT (12/28/2016) -- The Titans played their first 12 games out of conference, but now the calendar has turned to league play as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team begins Horizon League action at home against Northern Kentucky on Thursday.

The game is part of a Titan basketball doubleheader with the women hosting Valparaiso at 5 p.m., and the men's game set to tip at 7:30.

Fans can catch all the action on WADL-38 and on ESPN3 with Dan Dickerson on the call alongside former Titan standout Earl Cureton as well as on the radio on 910 AM Superstation with Cliff Russell providing the action. Live stats will also be provided.

This is the 38th year of the Horizon League (1979-80) and the 37th with Detroit Mercy as a member of the conference as the Titans are the eldest program in the league. Detroit Mercy is 248-270 all-time in the HL with two regular season championships (1998-tie, 1999) and three conference tournament titles (1994, 1999, 2012).

In contrast, Northern Kentucky is the newest member of the league having joined the conference last season. NKU is now a full-fledged member of Division I and is eligible for all postseason tournaments. 

Tickets to all home games start at just $10, $6 for children and seniors. To purchase tickets online, visit detroittitans.com/tix. To purchase over the phone or for more information on game tickets, contact Director of Ticket Operations & Sales Justin Hairston at 313-993-1700 ext. 7301 or at hairstjj1@udmercy.edu.

ALL-TIME VS. NORTHERN KENTUCKY
This is just the second year that Northern Kentucky is in the Horizon League as the teams split last year's games with each winning on the road.

ABOUT THE NORSE
NKU has already matched its win total from a year ago and enters the game at 9-4. The Norse were on a six-game winning streak, but that was snapped their last time out at No. 11/13 West Virginia (92-61).

Sophomore Drew McDonald leads the team in scoring (15.9) and rebounding (7.6), sixth and second in the HL, respectively.

Lavone Holland II is second on the team in scoring at 15.2 ppg., while Cole Murray is averaging 10.2 points and a HL best 3.1 three-point field goals per game.

NKU is fifth in the league in offense (76.9 ppg.) and ranks third in scoring defense giving up 69.7 points. 

TOUGH SCHEDULE
The eleven (11) non-conference foes on the Titan men's basketball schedule posted a 197-161 (.550) last season with four teams making the postseason in East Tennessee State (Vegas 16), Florida State (NIT), New Hampshire (CIT) and Fort Wayne (NIT).

The non-conference foes the Titans faced are a combined 86-61 (58.5%), including 37-7 (82.2%) for the seven non-conference match-ups on the road. 

In the national polls, Florida State is ranked No. 20 in the AP and coaches poll. Fort Wayne is ranked No. 6 in the mid-major poll, while ETSU is No. 11 and Eastern Michigan is receiving votes. 

LONG DISTANCE OFFENSE
The Titans were struggling from the three-point line during a four-game stretch hitting just 13-of-69 (18.8%), but have come alive in the last two games connecting on 27-of-50 (54.0%).

Last game, the Titans nailed 15-of-30, the most since setting a school record with 18 treys against Milwaukee on Feb. 26, 2000. The 15 triples are also the most in the HL this season.

In the win over Western Kentucky, the Titans were 12-of-20 (54.0%). 

The Titans are currently third in the Horizon League in three-point field goal percentage (36.3%) and sixth in three-point field goals per game (7.5). 

GOOD TEAMMATES
The Titans were credited with a season-high 18 assists their last time out against Fort Wayne, the most since posting 18 against Youngstown State last season. 

DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
The Titans have shown some improvements on defense since the season has started.

After allowing teams to shoot over 50.0 percent in the first five games, the Titans have held six of their last seven opponents to under that mark, including a season-low 40.4 percent at Toledo.

In fact on the road against the Rockets, Detroit Mercy limited the Rockets to just 30.4 percent in the first half, including 1-of-8 from three. 

Also, after being outworked on the boards in seven-straight games - including three by double digits - the Titans have won the glass the in two of the last four games with a 43-37 advantage at Toledo and a 39-34 margin at Bowling Green. 

Both of those games also saw Detroit Mercy come away with more offensive boards. 

The 43 boards at Toledo represented the most since the 44 they corralled in the season opener against Adrian. 

UNSTOPPABLE
Junior Jaleel Hogan has once again been an offensive force down low for the Titans as he is second in the Horizon League and 23rd in the nation in field-goal percentage at 60.0 percent (63-of-105). 

He is currently second in school history in career field-goal percentage at 59.1 percent trailing only Eli Holman '12 (60.5%). 

JALETHAL
Junior Jaleel Hogan has been in double figures in 10 this season after scoring 11 points in just 13 minutes against Fort Wayne.

That came after he tied his season-high with 19 points versus Western Kentucky, where he was a career-best 9-of-13 from the field. 

Some of his other big scoring games included: 16 points at Bowling Green and Murray State, 19 points against Manhattan and 18 points at New Hampshire. 

Hogan has also just missed a double-double a couple of times corralling back-to-back nine-rebound outings against Manhattan and EMU and eight boards against WKU. 

He is now second on the team and 12th in the Horizon League in scoring at 13.3 ppg. 

HIGH SCORING MCFOLLEY
Sophomore Josh McFolley is currently leading the team and is 11th in the Horizon League in scoring at 14.3 points per game. 

He is also tied for second in the Horizon League in three-point field goals per game (2.5) and is ninth in three-point field goal percentage (41.1%). 

He has five straight games in double figures, including 18 points against Fort Wayne - where he had four 3-pointers -  and 24 points - sinking six triples - in the win over Western Kentucky. 

It was his second 20-point effort of the year after netting 25 points earlier in the season at ETSU, where he was 7-of-9 from three.

In the last five games, he is averaging 16.6 points, 4.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 2.4 steals, shooting 46.5-percent (27-of-58) from the field and 38.7-percent (12-of-31). 

NOT ONLY SCORING
Sophomore Josh McFolley is known for scoring the basketball, but he has done a great job creating for his teammates in the last two games amassing 17 assists.

He had a then career high of eight against WKU and came back with a career-best nine versus Fort Wayne.

The nine assists were the most by a Titan since Jason Calliste had 10 at UIC on March 2, 2013.

YOU LITTLE THIEF
Sophomore Josh McFolley has recorded a steal in nine of the first 12 games, including seven multi-steal contests.

He tied his career-high with four steals at Toledo and has 12 steals in the last four games with three against WKU and Fort Wayne and two at Bowling Green. 

McFolley is currently second in the Horizon League with 1.7 steals per game. 

LITTLE GUY, BIG BOARDS
For the second time this season, sophomore Josh McFolley was able to pull down a career best in rebounds coming away with eight at Bowling Green. 

With the 10 points he scored, he just missed his first career double-double.

DID YOY SAY 33?
Freshman Corey Allen was on fire against Fort Wayne posting 33 points on a 11-of-17 from the field and 9-of-13 from behind the arc, while also handing out a career-high five assists.

The nine triples are the most by a player in the HL this season and the most by a conference player since Oakland's Max Hooper had nine at Green Bay last year.

The 33 points are the fifth-most in the HL this season. 

Allen's 33 points were also the most by a Titan since Anton Wilson had 34 against Youngstown State at home last year, while his nine 3-pointers were the most since Desmond Ferguson had 10 against Milwaukee in 2000. 

It was his second 20+-point outing of the season as he notched 20 against EMU.

Research is still being completed, but the 33 points looks to be the most by a Titan freshman in at least the last 20 years. 

HIGHEST SCORING FRESHMAN IN THE HL
Freshman Corey Allen is averaging nearly 16.0 points a game in his last six games and is now the highest scoring freshman in the Horizon League at 12.4 points per game - 16th in the HL. 

He is also leading the league and is seventh in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (51.9%) hitting 28-of-54 from distance on the season. 

He is also tied for second in the HL in three-point field goals per game (2.5), while also standing ninth in total field-goal percentage (47.9%). 

COREY GETTING IN A ZONE
Freshman Corey Allen has notched double figures in scoring six times this season, including his last five games where he has been completely healthy (did not play at Toledo and played just 7 minutes at Bowling Green).

He is coming off the 33-point explosion against Fort Wayne - where he scored 27 points in the second half. 

During this span, he has also registered 16 points, two assists, two steals and a rebound against WKU, 16 points and five rebounds at Murray State, 20 points versus Eastern Michigan and 10 points against Manhattan. 

In his last six games, he is averaging 15.8 points on 31-of-55 shooting (56.3%) and 22-of-37 (59.4%) from three.

In his first five games, Allen averaged 8.2 points on 36.6 percent shooting (15-of-41) and 35.3 percent (6-of-17) from long range.

CJ DOES IT ALL
Senior Chris Jenkins got off to a slow start from behind the arc, but is eighth in school history in three-point field goal percentage at 40.4 percent (85-of-210). 

Jenkins has scored in double figures in nine games on the season and has two double-doubles on the year - six in his career - one of seven HL players with multiple double-double outings in 2016-17. 

He is coming off an 11-point and career-best 16 rebound performance against Fort Wayne, where he also had a season-high two blocks. 

Jenkins tallied his first double-double with 15 points and a then career-best 14 rebounds at Toledo. 

Earlier this year, he netted his season-high of 18 at Florida State. 

He has also just missed recording a couple of other double-doubles with 13 points and nine boards at Illinois and nine points with eight rebounds against Eastern Michigan. 

Jenkins has handed out an assist in nine games with a season-high five at ETSU.

He is third on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg.) - 20th in the HL - while topping the squad on the boards (7.3 rpg.) - tied for third in the HL.

DRE DAY
Junior DeShawndre Black has had at least three assists in eight of the first 12 games, including a season-best seven assists against Manhattan and five assists at Murray State.

He is currently 12th in the Horizon League with 2.8 assists per game.

Black also has a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio on the season (34 assists, 12 turnovers).

JUST PERFECT
Sophomore Gerald Blackshear Jr. has been very active this season including just missing a double-double by tying his career high with 12 points and pulling down a season-best nine rebounds at Bowling Green. 

He was 6-of-9 against the Falcons and has connected on 50.0-percent or more from the field eight times this year. 

Blackshear Jr. also had 10 points, five boards and a steal at Toledo and eight points, five rebounds and an assist at Murray State. 

He had a solid game recording 10 points (4-6 FG) and six boards against Manhattan, and that was after a nine-point, seven-rebound performance at New Hampshire. 

On the year, he is 35-of-57 (61.4%) from the field, and would rank second in the Horizon League, but does not have enough field goals to qualify. 

Last season, he shot 55.2 percent from the field in limited attempts. 

LONG BALL
Freshman Cole Long made his first collegiate start against WKU and played a season-high 34 minutes, posting four points, four rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.

In his second start against Fort Wayne, he recorded four points, two rebounds and two steals. 

AN HONOR FOR #23
Sophomore Josh McFolley was named the College Sports Madness Horizon League Player of the Week on Dec. 19. 

McFolley tallied a game-high 24 points – 16 in the second half – while also handing out a career-high eight assists in the Titans 85-79 victory over Western Kentucky. 

With his eight assists leading to 19 Titan points combined with his own 24, McFolley accounted for a little over 50.0-percent of the Detroit Mercy offense in the win.

CONGRATS YOUNG ALLEN
Rookie Corey Allen was recognized as the HL Freshman of the Week on Monday, Dec. 5. 

Allen led the Titans in scoring in at 18.0 points in games against Eastern Michigan and Murray State. He 60.0-percent from the field (12-of-20), including 61.5-percent (8-of-13) from three. He started the week by recording a season-high 20 points against Eastern Michigan, going 7-of-11 from the field with four triples.  

He then knocked down another four 3-pointers en route to 16 points, while tying his season high with five rebounds and two assists at Murray State. 

CAREER NIGHT FOR MCFOLLEY
Sophomore Josh McFolley tallied a career-high 25 points at ETSU going 8-of-17 from the field and 7-of-9 from behind the arc. 

It was his second career 20-point game and his fifth career contest where he knocked down at least four triples. 

DOUBLE J
Senior Jarod Williams came up with his first career double-double in the season-opening win over Adrian as he ended the contest with 10 points and a career-best 10 boards. 

He came back to record 16 points - just two shy of his career high - at ETSU. 
Williams is once again finding himself offensively averaging 10.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in the last three games

In that span, he posted nine points and five boards at Murray State, 13 points with six rebounds at Toledo and nine points at BGSU. 

On the year, he is shooting 49.1 percent (27-of-55) in averaging 6.6 points and 3.6 rebounds. 

SENIOR STATUS
Four seniors are on the Titan roster in Matthew Grant, Chris Jenkins, Pat Robinson Jr., and Jarod Williams. The quartet has played in 280 career games with 145 starts.

HE CAN SHOOT THE 3?
Freshman seven-footer Malik Eichler is 5-for-5 behind the arc this season.

Eichler had a season-high seven points against Eastern Michigan, where he was 2-of-3 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 at the free throw line. 

He hit a three and grabbed a season-high three boards against Fort Wayne 

SHOW ME THE WAY ED
Freshman walk-on Ed Carter III had a great collegiate debut as he dished out a game-high five assists in the season opener. What was even better is that he recorded five assists against zero turnovers. 

On the year, he has 11 assists against just four turnovers.   

2017 LITTLE CAESARS MOTOR CITY MADNESS UPDATE
The 2017 Little Caesars Horizon League Men's and Women's Basketball Championship will run concurrently from March 3-7, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

The championship games will be held on Tuesday, March 7, for the Horizon League title and an automatic bid into the NCAA Men's and Women's Tournaments.

2017 marks the final year the Little Caesars Horizon League Men's and Women's Basketball Championships will be contested at Joe Louis Arena before moving to the state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena, currently under construction in downtown Detroit. 

All tickets for the Little Caesars Horizon League Men's and Women's Basketball Championship will go on sale on Thursday, December 29. Fans can purchase tickets at Ticketmaster.com, Joe Louis Arena Box Office, Campus Box Offices, or the Joe Louis Arena Tickets Sales and Service Office at 313-471-7575.

Over 20,900 fans attended the four-day tournament last year, the first neutral-site HL men's basketball championship since 2003.

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