Detroit Mercy 76, Butler 65: Titans end 10-game losing streak against Bulldogs - Detroit Free Press

Burdened with the label of being the most disappointing team in the Horizon League, the Detroit Mercy Titans came into today’s contest with Butler closer to last place than first.

But the Titans ended five years and 11 months of frustration with a 76-65 victory over the Bulldogs at Calihan Hall, as Detroit played its best game of the year while Butler played one of its worst.

The Titans (8-10, 2-4) hadn’t beaten Butler (9-8, 3-2) since Feb. 25, 2006, finally ending a 10-game losing streak to the best program in the league over the last decade.

“You talk about having your backs up against the wall â€" that’s what we faced today,” coach Ray McCallum said. “I told the guys a lot of people were going to see what we were made of. Not a lot of people expected us to win, just the guys in that (locker) room. It was a quick turnaround against one of the best programs in the country. This is a great sign, the way we played the game. It was a great sign the way we dominated the glass. I think they were a plus-65 on the offensive rebounding. We had to play tough today.”

The game was televised on ESPN3.

Five Titans scored in double figures: Jason Calliste had 16, Chase Simon 15, Ray McCallum Jr. 12, Donavan Foster 11 and Doug Anderson 10.

UDM shot 53.2% from the field, 56.3% from the three-point area and 81% from the free throw line. UDM outrebounded the Bulldogs, 30-26.

“We know this is the home stretch,” Foster said. “The guys have bought into coach’s system, and when we move we get good shots. This was one of our best games. We came out and played hard.”

Up 12 at halftime, the Titans used a triple by McCallum to increase their lead to 15, 41-26.

Prone to defensive lapses, the Titans continued to play with a big lead after a lob pass from Anderson resulted in a dunk by Eli Holman, his first points of the game. The basket extended UDM’s lead to 49-32 with 14:55 to play.

The second half’s most dynamic play was Anderson seemingly climbing a ladder for a lob dunk to give the Titans’ a 51-32 edge.

Triples from Calliste, Foster and Simon put UDM up, 64-44, with 8 minutes to play.

“I don’t want to take away from what they did, but I thought we got dominated right from the tip,” said Butler coach Brad Stevens. “They shot the heck out of it. They did a lot of other good things that led to shooting well.”

Under the gun to put together a winning streak, the Titans jumped out to a 25-8 lead by forcing five turnovers and shooting 53% from the field (9-of-17). Simon played a strong first half with nine early points, rebounding from a poor effort on Friday in a loss to Valparaiso.

Not able to keep up the momentum, the Titans fell prey to a 9-0 spurt by the Bulldogs. A pair of treys drew Butler to within 25-17.

Holman didn’t score in the first half and only picked up one foul as the Titans led 38-26 at halftime by shooting 46.2% from the field, 57.1% from beyond the arc and 83.3% from the free throw line. The Titans doubled Butler on the boards, 22-11.

Contact Perry A. Farrell: 313-222-2555 or pafarrell@freepress.com.