Antoine Davis played well on both ends of the floor to give Detroit Mercy a much need win on the road over Oakland.
This in-state matchup tonight between these two mid-major teams did not disappoint as both teams needed this win to move up in the Horizon League conference standings. With only 26 miles separating the University of Detroit Mercy and Oakland Basketball in a rivalry nicknamed the Metro Series, this game lived up to the hype as do many in-state rivalry games in a high-scoring game.
Antoine Davis, AJ Oliver, and Demaezi Anderson lead Detroit Mercy offensively in the first half
Anderson had 11 points on four-for-five shooting. Davis had 16 points on six for eight shooting with two rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Oliver had 11 points on 4/6 shooting. The three combined for 38 of Detroit Mercy’s 47 first-half points and helped the Titans to a 47 to 34 halftime lead. The Titans also shot 66.7% from the field and made 9 of 13 shots from beyond the arc and had 12 assists going into the half.
Jalen Moore, Trey Townsend, and Blake Lampman had a productive first half offensively for the Golden Grizzlies.
Moore led Oakland in scoring with 16 points on six-for-eight shooting to go along with two assists and three steals. Townsend went three for eight from the field for six first-half points as well as having three assists. Lampman also contributed offensively with six points going into halftime. As a team, the Golden Grizzlies shot only 23.1% from the three-point range and 42.4% from the field. Oakland did do well with their free throw attempts making three out of their four attempts and rebounded fairly well with 13 and six being on the offensive end heading into halftime.
The Titans continued to play well in the second half
At around the 15-minute mark in the second half, Davis made a three-pointer from the corner, then Liddel made a jumper from the free-throw line and Davis hit a fadeaway three from the wing to give the Titans a 20-point lead. Liddel made a 10-foot jumper from the baseline and Oliver made a three from the baseline to give the Titans a 71-46 lead. When the Golden Grizzlies cut the lead to 13, Davis made a fade away two from the baseline and Liddell got a tip-in layup to give the Titans a 17-point lead with just under five minutes left in the game.
The Titans with under a minute increased their lead to 22 for the quality road win. For the game, Oliver finished with 25 points, four rebounds, and two assists and Davis ended the game with 30 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Oakland struggled offensively in the second half
With just over 12 minutes left in the game the Golden Grizzlies only had 45 points and only scored 11 points in the second half at that point. Moore made two free throws with just over eight minutes remaining and then made a jumper and was fouled and made a free throw to shrink the Titan’s lead to 18. Moore made a steal and then a layup to cut the Titan’s lead to 13 with just under six minutes remaining but he did not have much help from his teammates in the second half on the offensive end.
Moore had 35 points for his career high with four minutes remaining in the game but every time it seemed he scored, the Titans would answer right back with a basket. Moore ended the game with 37 points, four assists, five rebounds, and six steals.
Oakland with the loss goes to 10-9 in the Horizon League standings to be currently in fifth place. The Golden Grizzlies next play at Youngstown State on Friday. Detroit Mercy with the win goes to 8-9 and they also stay on their home court to play IUPUI on Sunday.