DETROIT – Oakland University men’s basketball team fell to the University of Detroit Mercy Titans 74-54 Saturday at historic Calihan Hall.

Oakland won both matchups against its nearly rival last year, and this was Detroit’s first-ever Horizon League victory over The Golden Grizzlies.

Oakland coach Greg Kampe told the media after the game that he thought this was the most important game of the season so far and that he was extremely disappointed in his team’s performance.

“They beat the living crap out of us. They were like sharks smelling blood…and we just rolled over and took it,” Kampe said.  The host Titans went on a 13-0 run to end of the first half and Oakland never threatened in the second half. Oakland is now 1-2 in Horizon League play and 5-12 overall.

In their worst offensive performance of the season, the Grizzlies shot just 34.5 percent from the floor and committed 21 turnovers, including eight by sophomore point guard Kahlil Felder.

Senior forward Dante Williams finished 1 for 13 from the field and 1 for 10 from three-point land, although he did manage to hold the Horizon’s leading scorer Juwan Howard Jr. to just 11 points.

Senior center Corey Petros finished with two points and 10 rebounds, but only took four total shots in the game.

Felder led Oakland with 16 points, followed by senior forward Ralph Hill with 10 and transfer guard Max Hooper with nine.

Felder expressed disappointment with his own performance.

“It was very upsetting, but it happens,” Felder said.

The Titans (2-1, 8-9) were led by freshman forward Paris Bass, who scored 18 points and collected four rebounds.

Despite the discouraging performance, Kampe said that he remains excited for the future of this team competing against the better caliber programs in the Horizon League.

Oakland will lose key seniors Petros and Williams at the end of this season,  but Kampe has a long list of players ready to step up, including three freshmen recruits and two transfer students from Iowa State.

The Golden Grizzlies will host Horizon League favorite Wisconsin-Green Bay at 7 p.m. Thursday in the O’rena.