The University of Detroit Mercy grabbed their first Horizon League victory in defeating the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 72-61 at Calihan Hall on Thursday night.

Early in the first half, the Titans gained a 9-3 lead and even went to a 12-5 lead before the Panthers came back. Deion James hit a three-pointer and Deonte Roberts made a basket in order to bring the Panthers a 19-18 advantage.

Detroit came back with a 24-21 lead in the last minutes of the first half, but a three-pointer from Allan Hanson and a free-throw from Charlie Swiggett allowed UWM to take the lead going into the break.

Milwaukee and Detroit seemed to being having difficult nights. Milwaukee went nearly five minutes and Detroit went almost eight without making any baskets.

In the first half alone, UWM allowed 12 turnovers, setting the pace for the rest of the game.

“The game was not heading in the right direction from the beginning,” said coach Rob Jeter in the post-game press conference. “Our inability to get to loose basketballs, rebounding, turnovers ... it was just a weird game. It was uncharacteristic for us based on how we have been playing lately.”

A slow first half was immediately followed by a fast paced second half. The Titans came out scoring the first seven points, giving them the lead at 31-25. Although UWM came back to 35-31, the Titans responded with another seven points making the score 42-31.

With 6:30 left on the clock, the Panthers came back and narrowed the score to 52-47, with Paige Paulsen dropping in two three-pointers. UWM kept plugging, but the Titans connected on 14 of 18 free throws, securing the victory.

UWM lost for only the second time in its last 11 games. Paulsen had a high of 14 points and five rebounds, but was not enough to beat Detroit.

“It was clearly a game where turnovers set the tone," Jeter said. “There is no excuse for it.”

UWM is now 12-9 in overall wins and 7-4 in the Horizon League Conference. They are still ranked third, just below Butler and Cleveland State, who also lost on Thursday, to UIC.

Milwaukee’s next home game is February 12th on ESPNU, when they take on No. 12-ranked Butler.

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