DETROIT (11/2/2017) -- The start of the college basketball season is still a week away, but the Titans will have one final tune-up as the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team hosts Wayne State on Saturday in the Second Annual City College Series.

Game time is set for 7 p.m., inside historic Calihan Hall. The game will not be televised by ESPN3 or WADL-38, but will feature live stats.

Tickets to the game are set at $2 per person and all proceeds will Benefit Detroit Public Schools K-5. Tickets can be purchased in person at Calihan Hall (4001 W. McNichols Road in Detroit) or over the phone at 313-993-1700. 
 
The University of Detroit Mercy Department of Athletics has once again partnered with Michigan First Credit Union for the Second Annual "City College Series", benefiting Detroit Public Schools (DPS), grades K-5. The in-state rivalry and sponsorship formed with Michigan First to raise money for DPS with the aid of a basketball game between local academic institutions in the city. All proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to Detroit Public Schools to provide financial assistance for the district's K-5 classrooms with Michigan First contributing a matching donation for all tickets sold. Last year, nearly 3,000 people came out to watch the two local teams battle and the game raised nearly $8,000.

Game Notes

• With the game benefiting DPS, the night will feature a number of Motor City products including 10 total student-athletes from the city of Detroit and four coaches who all have early roots in the city. Four of the student-athletes from Detroit Mercy that grew up in the city or went to school in Detroit are juniors Gerald Blackshear Jr., (Detroit Western), Tariiq Jones (Detroit, Mich.), Josh McFolley (Detroit Western) and sophomore Ed Carter III (Edison), while head coach Bacari Alexander '99 (Southwestern) and assistant coach Jermaine Jackson '99 (Finney) also hail from Detroit.


• There is some crossover between the Titan and Warriors' coaching staff. WSU head coach David Greer spent six seasons as an assistant coach with the Titans from 1995-2001, helping the red, white and blue to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and wins (St. John's in 1999 and UCLA in 1999) as well as a run to the NIT Final Four in 2001. Greer coached both Titan head coach Bacari Alexander and assistant coach Jermaine Jackson while on the staff of legendary head coach Perry Watson. WSU assistant coach E.J. Haralson played for Greer and coach Watson and was a teammate of coach Alexander and Jackson from 1996-98 at Detroit Mercy. He was named the team's top newcomer in 1997 and served as a team co-captain during the 1997-98 season.


• The game marks the third-straight time that these two programs will meet in the preseason. Wayne State won last year's game, 85-79, while the Titans earned a 73-65 victory on Nov. 19, 2002. During the regular season, the Titans own a 33-13 career record against their Motor City counterparts with the last official match-up on Nov. 20, 2000, a 98-73 win. In regular season play, the Titans have won six in a row over Wayne State with their last loss coming on Nov. 27, 1993, an 82-78 WSU win in Perry Watson's first game as a head coach for Detroit Mercy. The red, white and blue would go on to win the MCC that season.


• Detroit Mercy will have a couple of family connections as junior Kameron Chatman is the son of assistant coach Canaan Chatman and freshman Jermaine Jackson Jr., is the son of assistant coach and former Titan and HL Player of the Year Jermaine Jackson. For Wayne State, redshirt freshman E.J. Haralson is the son of Warriors' assistant coach and former Titan E.J. Haralson.


• A few preseason honors saw senior Jaleel Hogan and sophomore Corey Allen named to the Preseason Horizon League Second Team. Allen and junior Josh McFolley were also honored by College SportsMadness as All-League performers, and the publication picked freshman Jermaine Jackson Jr. as the Preseason Freshman of the Year.


• The Titans were tabbed fourth in the HL preseason poll accumulating 273 points, including one first-place nod, voted on by the league's head coaches, sports information director's and media members. The Titans were behind only Oakland (453), NKU (414) and UIC (347).


• The third Titan Luncheon of the 2017-18 season is set for Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Noon inside the Ed & Brooks room at historic Calihan Hall. The luncheon will have a hardwood flavor as both head women's basketball coach Bernard Scott and head men's coach Bacari Alexander '99 will be the main speakers as they preview the start of the basketball year. The luncheon is presented by Mikhail Youdin of Edward Jones and will feature free Buddy's Pizza for all of those in attendance. Interested attendees are being asked to RSVP for the event by contacting Director of Marketing & Promotions Jeremiah Hergott at (313) 993-1700 ext. 7330 or by email at hergotjw@udmercy.edu.

 

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