CHICAGO – Chicago State men's basketball had three players score in double figures Monday night, but visiting Detroit managed to escape the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center with a 68-67 victory. The Cougars fell to 11-10 on the season while the Titans improve to 5-14.
The visitors broke an early 2-2 tie in the opening minute by scoring seven of the next 11 points in four minutes to post a slim 9-6 leading margin at the 15:13 mark following a layup from junior Eulis Stephens. After senior David Holston (Pontiac, MI/Avondale HS) (Pontiac, Mich.) connected on a three at 14:49 to even the score at 9-9, Detroit went on a 14-4 scoring drive in a near seven-minute span, including five points from junior Thomas Kennedy, to reclaim the lead at 23-13 with 7:54 remaining in the half.
CSU pulled within six (25-19) on a layup by Holston at 6:11 that culminated a quick 6-2 run that lasted over a minute, but UDM finished the half with a 12-4 scoring drive in the final six minutes to enter intermission with a 37-23 advantage.
The Cougars bounced back early in the second half with a spirited defensive effort that sparked a 15-4 scoring run in over six minutes that sliced their deficit to 41-38 with six points coming from Holston. After junior Eugene Blue split a pair of free throws at the 11:09 mark to hike the Titans' leading margin at 45-40, the home team, led by 10 points by Holston, rallied to score 22 of the next 37 points through a nine-plus minute stretch to claim its first lead since the opening tip at 62-61 on a Holston three at the 1:35 mark.
Senior Tryl Hartfield hit a pair of free throws to give UDM a 63-62 lead at the 1:04 mark before Cantrell hit a layup 13 seconds later for a 64-63 CSU advantage. Kennedy followed with a conventional three-point play at the 26 second-mark as the Titans gained a 66-64 lead. Senior Chris Hayes knocked down a pair of free throws 12 seconds left before Holston connected on his seventh triple of the night in the final seconds for the final margin.
“Foul trouble really hurt us tonight. We didn't do a good job of getting low post position, said second-year head coach Benjy Taylor. “Detroit did a good job of getting inside and once Carl (Montgomery) got into foul trouble we really couldn't get into a rhythm. Dave and JC did the best they could, but we just came up a little short tonight.”
Holston posted his 10th 30-point contest of the year after tallying 31 points with a game-high six steals to lead Chicago State. Senior John Cantrell (Pontiac, MI/Northern HS) (Pontiac, Mich.) added 14 points, six boards and two steals, while senior Tawrence Walton (Chicago, IL/Kennedy-King College) (Chicago, Ill.) produced 11 points and went 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
Kennedy paced Detroit with 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting with nine rebounds, five steals and three assists, while Stephens finished with 17 points.
The Cougars continue their homestand on Thursday night against Utah Valley with a start time of 7 p.m.
~ CSU ~
