DETROIT, Mich. - The Milwaukee men's basketball team battled all game, but could never quite get on track Saturday afternoon, falling to Detroit by a final score of 80-66 at Calihan Hall.
 
"We worked hard and battled," Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter said. "But the key was not being able to get some of those big rebounds and, obviously, not making shots. That was one of the first games all season where our most consistent guys didn't have their normal nights. When you put that all together, it gives you one of these tough losses."
 
The Panthers (16-10, 7-6 Horizon League) attempted a late rally against the Titans (13-12, 7-7 Horizon League), pulling within nine points with just over four minutes to play but could get no closer the rest of the way.
 
"We got to the free throw line, turnovers were fine, but not being able to rebound with them and the points in the paint killed us," Jeter said. "Forty-six points in the paint is just too many to overcome."
 
Matt Tiby led the way with 22 points. Jordan Johnson was the only other player in double-figures, finishing with 12.
 
Cold shooting did not help the effort, finishing the game at 32.8 percent (21-of-64) overall.
 
"On the first possession of the game alone, we had three shots at the basket," Jeter said. "We didn't make it. We had some good looks from beyond the arc … didn't make it."
 
Paris Bass had a game-high 24 points and added 10 rebounds for Detroit. Carlton Brundidge also had a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards.
 
The Titans grabbed a quick 11-2 lead to start the day and led the rest of the way, helped along by 53.1 percent shooting (34-of-64) and that 46-18 advantage on points in the paint.
 
They grew the second-half lead to as many as 18 before Milwaukee came storming back. The deficit was trimmed under double-figures on three different occasions, including at 70-61 with just over four minutes left. But, the Panthers could never get over the hump.
 
Milwaukee found itself trailing 44-29 at intermission after shooting less than 30 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.
 
They started cold, allowing the Titans to jump out to that 11-2 lead which eventually grew to 20-8 on a fastbreak dunk by Bass.
 
Milwaukee responded, helped along by a spark off the bench by JayQuan McCloud who netted seven points in just six first-half minutes. His three-pointer at the 7:37 mark got the Panthers back within seven at 28-21, only to see the home team respond with an 11-4 spurt to regain control.
 
Up next, the Panthers wrap up their five-game road trip with their third outing in five days when they head up I-43 to take on Green Bay Monday. Tip time against the Phoenix is set for 7 p.m.