Detroit Mercy Titans Conclude Non-Conference with 73-53 Topping of Bethune-Cookman

DETROIT, Michigan -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team had five players score in double figures and led wire-to-wire en route to a 73-53 win over Bethune-Cookman Monday night at Calihan Hall.

The Wildcats trimmed UDM's lead to six, 44-38, with 13:05 left in regulation, before the Titans closed the game with a 29-15 run to record their third-straight non-conference win at home.

Detroit (7-8) was led by junior forward Juwan Howard Jr. with 15 points, while Carlton Brundidge and Evan Bruinsma added 11 apiece and Jarod Williams and Anton Wilson pitched in 10. Bruinsma also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to record his third double-double of the season.

Detroit opened the game with a 16-3 run over the first six minutes of action, with three-pointers from Williams, Howard and Wilson, before the Wildcats trimmed the lead to 24-15 with 4:42 left. Detroit then closed the half with a 12-5 run including a three-pointer from Grant to take a 36-20 lead into the locker room. Howard and Williams led Detroit with seven points apiece, while Brundidge and Wilson added five.

Detroit looked liked it would runaway early in the second half after scoring the first basket off a Brundidge layup, but the Wildcats answered back with an 18-6 run to trim the Titans lead to 44-38. But that would be as close as the score would get as Detroit responded with a 10-1 run, including a pair of monster jams from Patrick Onwenu and Jermaine Lippert, to extend its lead to 54-39 with 7:20 left. B-CU would cut the lead to 56-46 with six minutes left, before the Titans closed with a 17-7 run.

Detroit finished shooting 50 percent (24-of-48) overall, while holding Bethune-Cookman to just 27.7 percent (13-of-47). The Titans finished 7-of-20 from downtown, while the Wildcats finished 7-of-27 from beyond the arc. Detroit also forced 11 turnovers, with nine steals, while dishing out 14 assists.

Malik Jackson led Bethune-Cookman (2-14) with a game-high 18 points, while Maurice Taylor added seven points and six rebounds.

Detroit will tip-off Horizon League play on Saturday, Jan. 4 when it hosts Wright State at historic Calihan Hall. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be televised live on WADL TV 38. The game can also be heard on 97.1 The Ticket's webstream with Dan Leach the voice of Titans Basketball.

GAME NOTES: Detroit leads the all-time series 3-0 … Juwan Howard Jr. has scored in double figures 14 times this season … Evan Bruinsma has recorded a team leading three double-doubles this season … Five Titans scored in double figures in the same game for the first time since Jan. 26, 2013 vs. Loyola … Detroit has improved to 5-2 at home this season.

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COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS