DETROIT TITANS - 2012 HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!

It's been a long 13 years, but finally the wait is over as the #3 Detroit Titans put together a strong 2nd half to defeat the #1 Valparaiso Crusaders on their home court, 70-50 to become the 2012 Horizon League Champions. The league title is the first for the Titans since 1999 and have earned the right to enter into this year's NCAA Tournament.

As Detroit led 44-42 with 8:35 to play in the 2nd half, the Titans locked the game away by outscoring the Crusaders 26-8 the rest of the way, taking advantage of Valpo's turnovers and cashing them in for points. Detroit held a 20-2 advantage in points off of turnovers.



With an eight-point lead with 2:41 left, Detroit put the game away with 12 consecutive points. After the final buzzer, the red-clad UDM cheering section spilled onto the court in celebration. The Titan fans, which were more than four buses strong from the Motor City, helped neutralize a once-raucous crowd of 4,258 Valpo fans to bring Detroit its first league championship since the MCC changed its name to the Horizon League and third overall (1994, 1999).

It was also quite the birthday present from son (guard Ray McCallum) to father as Titan head coach Ray McCallum celebrated his 51st birthday.



McCallum finished the game with 21 points, six rebounds, four steals & three assists. His 21 points gave him 10 games of 20+ points, which leads the team and as a sophomore, he is only seven points away from becoming another prestigious member of the Detroit Titans' 1,000 point club.

After celebrating the Horizon League title for the next few days, Detroit will learn this Sunday evening at 6 p.m. who they're playing and where they will be for the 2012 NCAA Tournament.