Gameday Central - Valparaiso DETROIT (2/20/2016) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team will have a big challenge on hand as the Titans will look to win its fourth-straight game at Valparaiso on Sunday, Feb. 21.
Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. (EST) at the ARC in Valparaiso, Ind. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN App, while the Voice of the Titans
Dan Leach will call all the action on CBS Sports Radio 1270 AM.
Detroit and Valparaiso are two of the hottest squads in the Horizon League with both teams having won six of their last seven games. Detroit is 15-12 overall and 9-7 in the HL as the Titans are still chasing the No. 2 seed in the #MotorCityMadness, while Valparaiso is 23-5, 13-2 in league play and just clinched a share of the regular season title.
The Titans shot the ball well again in their come-from-behind win at UIC getting to 50.0 percent in the second half to help erase a 12-point deficit and take an 18-point advantage. UDM leads the Horizon League in field-goal percentage at 46.4%, while standing second in the league in three-point field goal percentage (38.3%).
After the game, Detroit will have a busy week to end the regular season as the team will perform a community service project and bring water to Flint that the Athletic Department has collected on Monday, Feb. 22, before closing out the year with a #MetroSeries battle at Oakland on Friday.
DETROIT VS. VALPARAISOThe Titans and Crusaders have met only 26 times despite the fact that both campuses are relatively close to each other, just 244 miles apart. In fact before joining the HL, Detroit and Valpo met just six times and that was all between 1921 and 1927.
The teams have split the last eight meetings, rotating wins and losses, and the Titans are 5-8 on the road in the series.
ABOUT THE CRUSADERSValparaiso is coming off a win against Oakland on Friday that helped the Crusaders inch closer to an outright HL regular season championship. Valpo - the preseason favorite - comes into the game at 23-5, 13-2 in conference play and is already assured a share of the regular season title.
Alec Peters, a candidate for Player of the Year accolades, leads the team in scoring (16.5 ppg.) and rebounding (8.1), top five in the HL in both categories. Tevonn Walker is second on the team in scoring at 10.3 points, while Vashil Fernandez is tallying 7.6 rebounds and a team-best 3.0 blocks per game.
Valpo is the best defensive team in the conference allowing just 59.8 points and topping the HL in field goal percentage defense (.375), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.326) and rebounding (41.9).
#MOTORCITYMADNESSThe Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament - #MotorCityMadness - will take place just 9.2 miles away from campus.
The first two years of the five-year agreement with Olympia Entertainment will be played at Joe Louis Arena, home to the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings, before moving to the state-of-the-art Detroit Events Center, currently under construction in downtown Detroit.
A number of ticket packages are available from full tournament sessions to family packs. For tickets, visit motorcitymadness.horizonleague.org, Ticketmaster or call 313-471-7575.
Remember to mention Detroit to sit in the Titan fan section
A LOOK AT THE HL CHAMPIONSHIPThe Titans are currently fifth in the Horizon League standings, but can still finish as high as second in the conference.
To do that, Detroit would need to win out and get some help, specifically Oakland and Wright State losing out and Green Bay not reaching 11 wins.
With just one week left in the regular season, just two games separate second place from fifth place in the HL.
STRONG AT HOMEDetroit finished the regular season 11-4 on Dick Vitale Court this year and winners of 14 of its last 18 home games.
On the year, Detroit is averaging 86.7 points at home and allowing 78.3, all while shooting 48.2 percent from the field.
On the road, Detroit is 4-8 this season, but has won four-straight away from Calihan Hall. The last time Detroit won five in a row on the road was in 1997-98. UDM began the year by dropping its first eight road games.
On the year, the Titans are averaging 79.9 points and giving up 86.2 on the road.
ANOTHER COMEBACKThe Titans were down by 11, 24-13, to Wright State on Jan. 31 but were able to mount a comeback for the victory. The Titans upped that comeback margin by one, overcoming a 12-point deficit to win at UIC, 83-72, on Feb. 19.
The 12-point comeback was the largest by the Titans since they were down 13 at UIC last year (48-35) and came back to post a 68-68 triumph.
POINTS, POINTS, POINTSThe Titans are ninth in the nation - and third in the HL - in scoring at 83.7 points, behind only Oakland (87.1) and Green Bay (85.1).
The 83.7 points are the best offensive numbers since averaging 92.6 points during the 1977-78 season under coach Dick Vitale.
The Titans have also scored 90 or more points seven times, the most since scoring 90 or more seven times in the 1987-88 campaign.
OFFENSIVE ATTACKDetroit has scored at least 75 points in 21 of its 27 games, including 88 or more nine times and 90 or more on seven occasions.
UDM has also made at least 30 field goals 11 times and has posted 39 twice.
The Titans lead the HL in shooting at 46.4 percent. They have also posted 50% or higher seven times, and 47% or higher 14 times.
Detroit hit eight of its first 11 shots and finished shooting 53.1% (34-of-64) in the win over Milwaukee last weekend.
UDM also had an explosive game on offense as it scored 94 points and shot 53.8% (35-of-65) from the field at Youngstown State. That was after tallying 49.0% (24-of-49) at Cleveland State, including 52.0% in the second half. In the win over Wright State, Detroit shot 47.3% overall and 60.0% in the second half (12-of-20).
Against Oakland, UDM was at 52.4% (33-of-63) - including 58.1% (18-of-31) in the second half - while at Green Bay, the Titans were 48.7% (38-of-78), including 50% (25-of-50) in the second half and overtime
GETTING DEFENSIVEThe Titans have held four of their last seven opponents to under 70 points, including a season-low 63 points at Cleveland State, 68 to Wright State and at Northern Kentucky, and 66 against a high-scoring Milwaukee team.
Detroit also has 14 games on the year with seven or more steals, 12 with five or more blocks and seven games in which the opponent has turned it over 15 or more times.
In the win at UIC, the Titans held the Flames to 39.9%, including 4-of-20 from three.
SO CLOSEDetroit has suffered eight of its 12 losses by single digits, including six by five points or less and three games by one possession.
In Horizon League play, UDM has dropped a one-point game at Wright State (77-76) and against Green Bay (86-85), a three-point setback at Milwaukee (83-80), a home contest against Oakland (86-82) and an overtime decision at Green Bay (115-108).
DOWN LOW POWERDetroit has been getting it done in the post outscoring opponents in the paint 14 times this season, including in five of the last six contests.
UDM outscored Milwaukee, 46-18, and at NKU, 36-22, in two of its last three wins.
The 48 points in the paint are tied for the third-highest amount on the season for Detroit behind the 58 at Green Bay and 55 at Oral Roberts.
GETTING TO THE LINEThe Titans are attacking the rim and getting a chance to score some easy points.
Detroit has visited the free throw line 469 times in HL play, connecting on 326 (69.5%), leading the Horizon League in attempts and standing second in makes in league-only games.
In the win over Wright State, Detroit was 28-of-37 (75.7%), while WSU was just 7-of-10.
Detroit was also 31-of-39 (79.5%) at the line in the win over UIC, setting a season high in made free throws.
That was after going 25-of-29 (86.2%) in the win over Youngstown State and 28-of-42 (66.7%) in the triumph over Cleveland State.
The 42 free throws were the most since attempting 43 against Stony Brook in 2013.
THE EXTRA PASSThe Titans totaled 19 assists their last time out, the eighth time on the year that Detroit has tallied 15 or more assists and the most since posting 18 against Youngstown State on Jan. 2.
The season high is 22 versus UM-Dearborn earlier in the season.
UDM is 9-2 on the season when it records more assists than its opponent.
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 has tallied double-digit triples eight times this season after accomplishing it just three times all of last year. UDM tallied double-digit treys in HL play for the first time this year hitting 10-of-21 at Cleveland State.
Detroit is second in the Horizon League and 34th in the nation in three-point field-goal percentage (38.3%) and 74th in three-point field goals per game (8.2), third in the HL.
CLEANING THE GLASSDetroit totaled a season-high 53 rebounds in the win over Youngstown State, outrebounding the Penguins by 33 (53-20).
The 53 boards were the most since grabbing 55 against Niagara in a 96-77 win in 2010.
It was the third time this season Detroit has recorded 45 or more boards as it had 52 against Central State and 45 at Oral Roberts.
UDM has also outrebounded opponents in its last six wins winning the boards against Wright State (31-21), at Cleveland State (39-27), at Youngstown State (33-31), against Milwaukee (41-35), at NKU (42-32) and at UIC (43-41).
The Titans are 13-3 on the season when outrebounding their counterpart.
COUNTING 20'S Sophomore
Paris Bass just posted his fifth-straight 20-point game as he tallied a team-high 22 points at UIC.
That came after 24 points at NKU, against Milwaukee and Green Bay and 20 at Youngstown State.
The five-straight 20-point games are the most for a Titan since Brandon Cotton did it in five straight during 2005-06 season.
The 20-point streak also came after he went three-straight games not even reaching double figures with seven against NKU and at Cleveland State and six versus Wright State.
In the last five games, he is averaging 22.8 points on 51.1 percent shooting (45-of-88) and 79.1 percent (19-of-24) at the free-throw line.
GLASS MANSophomore
Paris Bass collected a career-high 17 rebounds at Cleveland State, which was just 10 less than what the entire CSU team recorded. His 17 rebounds were the most by a Titan since Feb. 14, 2010, when Eli Holman had 18 vs. Milwaukee.
Bass has now collected double-digit rebounds in four-straight games, five of the last six contests and seven times in HL play.
In conference play, Bass is fourth in rebounding at 8.8 per game.
ONE BIG FISHSophomore
Paris Bass - who missed the first seven games due to a suspension for violation of team rules - has been a force on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
He is coming off his fourth-straight double-double and sixth of the season with a team-high 22 points and 11 rebounds at UIC.
He also had a team-high 24 points and 10 rebounds against Milwaukee, 24 points and 13 boards against Green Bay and a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds at Northern Kentucky.
Bass tied his career high for the third time with 28 points at Wright State, which included six rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Some other great games, included 28 points and 13 rebounds against Cleveland State, 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists and six blocks at Green Bay and 20 points, eight rebounds, a career-high six assists, three blocks and a steal against Oakland.
LURKING IN THE WATERSophomore
Paris Bass returned to action in a big way against Bowling Green as the reigning HL Freshman of the Year posted a team-high 25 points, while tallying eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Since he returned to the court, he has recorded double figures in 16 of his 20 contests, pulled down seven rebounds in 14 games and has had three assists or more 11 times, not to mention 11, 20-point outings and six double-doubles.
His 11, 20-point games is tied for third in the HL, while his six double-doubles in HL games only is tied for third.
He is averaging 18.3 ppg., 8.0 rpg., and 2.4 apg., and would rank fourth in the HL in scoring, fifth in rebounding and 14th in assists if he had enough games to qualify for the overall statistics leaders.
In Horizon League only games, he is fourth in scoring (18.6), rebounding (8.8), blocks (1.8) and steals (1.6).
#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 (77-of-175), which is second in school history (48.1% by Archie Tullos in 1987). He is also seventh in the HL and 22nd in the nation.
His 77, 3-pointers on the season is a new career high surpassing the 56 he had last year, and is the third-straight season he has made 50 treys in a season.
He enters the game seventh in school history in single season 3-pointers with 77.
Wilson is fifth in school history with 196 career 3-pointers and is also currently third in UDM history with a 41.4 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. Anton Wilson, 2012-pre. - 196Career 3-Point Field Goal % Leaders1. Archie Tullos, 1985-88 - .433
2. Bill Wood, 1987-90 - .415
3. Anton Wilson, 2012-pre. - .414Titan Season 3-Point Field Goal Leaders4. Desmond Ferguson, 1999 - 83
5. Desmond Ferguson, 2000 - 82
6. Jon Goode, 2008 - 79
7. Anton Wilson, 2016 - 77TRIPLE 3 SPECIALITYAnton Wilson started the season with back-to-back games hitting four 3-pointers, and he added another game with four treys at #16/13 Vanderbilt. He also hit a season-high five treys vs. Bowling Green and in the win Wright State, one off his career best.
Wilson has made a triple in 26 of 27 games this season with his only blemish against Milwaukee (0-for-3).
He has 19 career game with four or more treys, 87 career games with at least two 3-pointers and 34 games knocking down at least three treys.
WHAT A SENIOR YEARSenior
Anton Wilson has 20 double-digit scoring games with three 20-point efforts.
He is second on the team in scoring at 14.5 ppg., - seventh in the HL. His 77 treys top UDM and his 2.81 three-point field goals per game is second in the HL and 47th in the nation.
BACK-TO-BACK 20'SJunior
Chris Jenkins tallied back-to-back 20-point games for the first time in his career as he registered a team-high 20 at Milwaukee and a team-best 25 at Green Bay.
With his 20 points at Cleveland State, he now has six career 20-point games - five this year.
DOUBLE-UP CHRISJunior
Chris Jenkins has scored in double figures 15 times already, which includes four 20-point games, a career high in points and three double-doubles.
He netted his career-high 26 points with 10 rebounds and three steals in the win over UCF and had a great week in Wisconsin with 20 points at Milwaukee and 25 at Green Bay, team highs in both games.
He has also tallied 17 points and 11 rebounds against Toledo - where he also has a career-best four blocks.
He has twice tied his career high with four steals in a game and at Oral Roberts, Jenkins had 16 points and a career-tying 13 rebounds.
On the year, the do-it-all Titan has:
- 15 games in double figures
- 18 games with five or more rebounds
- 9 games with two or more assists
- 6 games with two or more steals.
He is currently third on the team and 16th in the HL in scoring (12.5), while standing second on the team and tied for 12th in the league in field-goal percentage (49.1%).
He is also among the team leaders and the top 15 in the Horizon League in:
3-Point Field Goal Percentage (45.1%) - 5th
Free throw percentage (76.1%) - 8th
Rebounding (5.7) - 12th
Steals (1.1) - 12th
LONG RANGE CJJunior
Chris Jenkins set a career high with six 3-pointers at Cleveland State on Feb. 6, going 6-of-8 from distance.
He was 5-of-7 from three against Milwaukee and is now 14 for his last 25 (56.0%) from behind the arc in his last six games.
His 45.1 percent from three on the year is fifth in the HL, and he is just a few triples away from qualifying for national leaders where he would rank ninth in the nation.
JA-LETHALSophomore
Jaleel Hogan has been in double figures 16 times on the year.
He recently posted his second double-double of the year with 18 points and a season-tying 10 boards against Green Bay.
Back on Jan. 16, he tallied a career-high 20 points with eight rebounds against Oakland.
He had his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 boards vs. Bowling Green.
In the last eight games, Hogan is averaging 12.6 points on 64.0 percent shooting (41-of-64).
He is tied for fourth on the team with 4.0 rebounds and fourth netting 10.4 points per game, all while shooting 58.1 percent, second in the HL.
PAINT MANWith his strength, sophomore
Jaleel Hogan is uncanny in the paint showcased by his career 59.4 (177-of-298) field-goal percentage.
On the year, he is second in the HL in field-goal percentage at 58.1 percent.
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.
HIGH-SCORING ROOKIEFreshman
Josh McFolley has scored in double figures 11 times this year, including 16 points against Youngstown State on Feb. 6 - the most he has scored in HL play.
McFolley scored a season-high 20-points in a victory over Northeastern, 19 at Eastern Michigan and 16 in the win versus Toledo.
He handed out a season-high six assists in the win over Cleveland State and now has seven games on the year with four or more assists.
He is currently sixth on the team with 8.7 ppg. - fourth among HL rookies.
He leads all HL freshmen in three-point field goals per game (1.6) - 14th in the HL - and is third among rookies in three-point field goal percentage (36.0%).
CB'S FINAL STANDCarlton Brundidge has had a career year so far in his final season of eligibility.
He is coming off his third career 20-point game as he tallied 21 points with a team-high seven assists at UIC.
He just recorded his second-straight double-digit rebounding game with 11 boards at NKU and that performance came after he had his first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 12 boards against Milwaukee.
In the last four games games, he is averaging averaged 15.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists, all while shooting 57.8 percent (22-of-38).
He is currently third on the team with 2.3 assists - 15th in the HL - and is fifth on the team in scoring (9.5) and tied for fourth in rebounding (4.0). He also leads the team with a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Earlier in the year, he posted a career-best 23 points at Oral Roberts - 17 in the second half - where he was a career-high 10-of-19 from the field with five boards and two assists.
EASY POINTSSenior
Anton Wilson is a career 85.7 percent shooter at the free throw line connecting on 138-of-161 career attempts.
With his 161 career attempts, he now has the qualifying mark for the school record book, where he is third in free-throw percentage.
He is also 71-of-80 (88.8%) this season to lead the Horizon League. His makes and attempts are the most ever he has registered at the charity stripe in his career.
