Honestly, if you just looked at the final score, you might think it was a routine Sunday afternoon in Detroit. It wasn't. The January 11, 2026, matchup between Detroit Mercy vs Cleveland St was a chaotic, high-scoring affair that basically threw the Horizon League standings into a blender. Detroit Mercy walked away with a 94-84 win, but the box score tells a much wilder story than just a ten-point margin.
Calihan Hall was jumping. You’ve got a Detroit Mercy team that’s been scrappy all year, trying to climb over the .500 mark in conference play. Then you have Cleveland State, a team that can shoot the lights out but just hasn't found the rhythm to close games lately.
The Stat That Actually Mattered
Everyone is talking about the scoring, but the real reason Detroit Mercy won this game? Rebounding. It was a bloodbath on the glass. The Titans absolutely bullied the Vikings, winning the rebound battle 49 to 27. You just can’t win a Division I basketball game when the other team gets 22 more chances to touch the ball than you do.
Detroit Mercy turned those missed shots into 18 second-chance points. Cleveland State? They only managed six. That’s the game right there.
Why Detroit Mercy vs Cleveland St Was the Jaidon Lipscomb Show
We have to talk about Jaidon Lipscomb. Seriously. The Cleveland State senior guard went absolutely nuclear. He put up a career-high 30 points, and he didn't do it by driving to the rim or living at the free-throw line.
He was a flamethrower from deep.
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Lipscomb knocked down nine triples. Nine. He was 9-of-16 from the three-point line. At one point in the second half, it felt like he couldn't miss if he tried. But here is the thing: basketball is a team sport. While Lipscomb was playing like an All-American, the Vikings were getting shredded on the defensive end.
The Titans’ Balanced Attack
Detroit Mercy didn't need one guy to score 30 because they had everyone contributing. Tyler Spratt was the engine. He finished with 19 points and played with a level of efficiency that coaches dream about. He went 5-for-10 from the floor and was perfect from the charity stripe.
Then you have Orlando Lovejoy. If you aren't watching Lovejoy, you're missing out. He had 18 points, sure, but look at the rest of his line:
- 9 assists (running the floor like a vet)
- 7 rebounds (from the guard position!)
- 8 steals
Eight steals is insane. He was basically a one-man wrecking crew on the perimeter, jumping passing lanes and making the Cleveland State guards miserable all afternoon.
A Tale of Two Halves
The game started out kinda tight. It was tied 5-5 early on, but then Detroit Mercy decided they’d had enough of that. They went on a tear and built a 16-point lead (36-20) midway through the first half.
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But Cleveland State isn't a team that just rolls over. They clawed back with an 11-0 run that cut the lead to just three points with about a minute left in the half. If you were a Titans fan, you were sweating. Detroit Mercy went into the locker room up 46-40, but the momentum felt like it was shifting.
The second half was a different story. The Titans pushed the lead out to 21 points at one point. Cleveland State spent the rest of the game "chipping away," as the broadcasters say, but they never really got back within striking distance.
Free Throws: The Great Divider
In a game this fast-paced, the free-throw line usually decides the winner. Detroit Mercy was clinical. They shot nearly 84% from the line (26-of-31). Cleveland State, on the other hand, left way too many points on the floor, shooting a dismal 62.5%.
When you lose by ten and miss nine free throws, the math is pretty painful.
Looking Ahead in the Horizon League
So, what does this Detroit Mercy vs Cleveland St result actually mean for the rest of the season?
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Well, for Detroit Mercy (now 7-9 overall, 4-3 in the Horizon), it’s a massive confidence booster. They’ve shown they can handle a high-octane offense and dominate the interior. Ryan Kalambay snagging 10 rebounds was huge for them, and they’ll need that post-presence as they head into the heart of the conference schedule.
For Cleveland State (5-13, 1-6), the vibes are a bit lower. They have the talent—Chevalier Emery added 19 points and Dayan Nessah put up a double-double with 13 points and 10 boards—but they can't seem to stop anyone. Giving up 94 points is a tough pill to swallow.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following these teams, here is what you need to watch for in the coming weeks:
- Watch the Glass: Cleveland State is vulnerable against teams with size. If their next opponent has a strong frontcourt, expect more of the same.
- Lovejoy's Defensive Pressure: Orlando Lovejoy is arguably the best defensive guard in the league right now. Teams that play loose with the ball are going to get punished.
- Lipscomb's Sustainability: Can Jaidon Lipscomb keep shooting 56% from three? Probably not. Cleveland State needs to find more scoring in the paint to balance things out.
The Titans are currently sitting middle-of-the-pack, while the Vikings are dangerously close to the bottom. But in the Horizon League, things change fast. Cleveland State heads home to face Green Bay on January 15, while Detroit Mercy looks to keep the momentum rolling.
If you’re looking for a takeaway, it’s this: don't let the 94-84 score fool you. This was a game of extreme highs (Lipscomb’s shooting) and devastating lows (CSU’s rebounding). In the end, Detroit Mercy's physicality and composure at the free-throw line won out.