DETROIT — The men’s and women’s basketball teams from Detroit Mercy and Wayne State faced off in season opening exhibition games at Calihan Hall. Both contests were thrilling and came down to the last five seconds. The games were billed as the 3rd Annual City College Series benefitting the Detroit Public Schools K-5 program. Michigan First Credit Union was a lead marketing partner for the event. Before the game, the new Director of the Detroit Sports Commission, Kris Smith, was introduced.
Sophomore Lexey Tobel drove to the basket from around the top of the key to break a 56-56 tie with a layup and three seconds left. This gave the Lady Titans a 58-56 victory over the never-say-die WSU Lady Warriors. Wayne State wasn’t able to get a last-second shot with 1.5 seconds left. Tobel led all scorers with 21 points. She said postgame, “I knew I had to finish this shot.”
In the nightcap and start of the new Detroit Mercy coach Mike Davis era, the Titans won on a game-winning three-pointer with less than two seconds left. Senior Josh McFolley hit the three, as the University of Detroit Mercy downed Wayne State, 79-76.
It was Davis’ first feel of the iconic building with a crowd and real game action. In June, Davis was hired as the 22nd head coach in Titans history. The veteran educator brings a load of experience in his 18 years as a head coach. He has accumulated an impressive 352-241 record with 14 postseason trips and nine appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Freshman Antoine Davis led all scorers with 20 points and McFolley added 17 points for the winners and Latin Davis added 15. Darian Owens-White had 18 points for Wayne State. Jacob Joubert, who played for Detroit Mercy last season, saw five minutes of action for Wayne State. Detroit Mercy was awarded 32 free throw attempts compared to only seven for WSU.
