DETROIT (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons used a decisive second-half surge to overcome a halftime deficit and defeat the Detroit Titans 83-76 in a Horizon League men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at Calihan Hall.

A sparse crowd of 1,003 watched the Mastodons improve to 13-8 overall, while Detroit fell to 8-11. The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Purdue Fort Wayne, which also won the first meeting 81-77 on Dec. 14.

The most critical phase of the contest arrived early in the second half. After trailing 39-36 at intermission, Purdue Fort Wayne emerged from the locker room with a transformed offensive rhythm. The Mastodons unleashed a 17-4 run over the first six minutes of the period, flipping a three-point deficit into a 53-43 lead they would never relinquish.

The catalyst was a blistering display of perimeter shooting. Mikale Stevenson, who finished with a team-high 22 points, ignited the run with a pair of 3-pointers. DeAndre Craig and Maximus Nelson also connected from deep during the pivotal stretch, as the Mastodons consistently generated and made open looks against the Detroit defense. The run was a stark contrast to a first half where both teams struggled for consistent offensive flow, with the Titans taking their slim lead on the strength of TJ Nadeau’s 15 first-half points.

Detroit, led by the trio of Nadeau, Orlando Lovejoy and Tyler Spratt, refused to fold. Nadeau finished with a game-high 22 points, Lovejoy added 19 points and four assists, and Spratt contributed 17 points. The Titans chipped away at the double-digit margin multiple times in the second half, closing to within four points on several occasions.

Each time, Purdue Fort Wayne had an answer, often from Stevenson or Corey Hadnot, who matched Stevenson with 22 points of his own. Hadnot’s driving layup with 1:26 remaining pushed the lead to 75-69, and after a Detroit basket, Stevenson delivered the dagger—a deep 3-pointer from the wing with 2:53 left that extended the advantage to 78-71 and effectively sealed the outcome.

The statistical story favored the Mastodons in key efficiency areas. While both teams attempted 63 field goals, Purdue Fort Wayne’s advantage came from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line. The Mastodons made 12 of 30 3-point attempts compared to Detroit’s 7 of 18. Purdue Fort Wayne also converted 17 of 24 free throws, while the Titans made 13 of 18.

Perhaps most telling was the turnover battle. Purdue Fort Wayne committed only six turnovers, capitalizing on Detroit’s 10 miscues to maintain possession and control tempo during the crucial second-half run. The Mastodons also dished out six assists to Detroit’s four, indicative of their more fluid ball movement down the stretch.

Defensively, Purdue Fort Wayne tightened its grip after halftime, holding Detroit to 37 second-half points and limiting the Titans’ offensive rating to 106.2 for the game. The Mastodons posted a 114.6 offensive rating themselves, scoring 83 points on 72 possessions.

Beyond the leading scorers, Purdue Fort Wayne received timely contributions. Darius Duffy provided energy off the bench with seven points, five rebounds and a block in 21 minutes, while Maximus Nelson chipped in nine points and several key defensive rebounds.

The win continues a positive stretch in Horizon League play for Purdue Fort Wayne, which has now won four of its last five conference games. Detroit, meanwhile, sees a two-game winning streak snapped as it continues to search for consistency in league action.

Purdue Fort Wayne next travels to face IU Indy on Sunday. Detroit will remain at home to host Oakland on Saturday.