By Michael Rosenberg - AP
Special to The Washington Post  In 1999


INDIANAPOLIS (March 11, 1999) -- For the second straight year, Detroit faced a higher-seeded foe from a glamour conference in the first round of the NCAA tournament. For the second straight year, the Midwestern Collegiate Conference champion sent their highly regarded opponent home. 

No. 12 seed Detroit (25-5) went on a 14-5 run late in the game tonight to close out fifth-seeded UCLA, 56-53, and advance to a second-round game against Ohio State on Saturday. 

"It's not only a great victory for the University of Detroit Mercy, it's great for any of the other Cinderella schools out there," Titans forward Bacari Alexander said. 
The Titans (25-5) struggled with foul trouble and offensive ineptitude and trailed 40-31 five minutes into the second half. 

"We really felt we could beat them when we were down nine," said guard Jermaine Jackson, who led the Titans with 17 points. "Coach [Perry Watson] gave us that look he gives us when we're down." 

The Titans trailed 48-42 when they started their big run with two free by Alexander with 5 minutes 59 seconds left. Nobody scored for three minutes until Desmond Ferguson hit a three-pointer to pull the Titans within one. 

Baron Davis (16 points) then drove to the basket for the Bruins, but he missed, and when Detroit came back down the floor Ferguson put up another three, one that would have given Detroit its first lead of the half. 

It missed. But Daniel Whye got the rebound and drew a foul, then hit both free throws to give the Titans a 49-48 lead. Davis responded with a driving layup, then committed his fifth foul. 

That sent Davis to the bench, where he sat and watched his season end. 

Rashad Phillips hit both free throws to make it 53-50, and after both teams turned it over, Detroit tried to milk the clock. But the Titans milked it too much, and Whye forced up an awkward shot with his foot on the three-point line. When it fell, the Titans led by five, and Jaron Rush's ensuing clutch three came too late. 
UCLA Coach Steve Lavin pointed to the Bruins' 8-for-24 second-half shooting and 5-for-12 free throw shooting as their undoing. 

"There is no mystery as to why we lost this game," he said.