GAME NOTES: Hoping to put the brakes on a two-game slide, the Detroit Titans play host to the Jaguars of South Alabama on Saturday afternoon.

South Alabama brings a 1-1 record into this contest, as the team took down visiting Carroll a week ago Friday, but then hit the road to challenge Southern Miss. The Jaguars lost to the Golden Eagles, 68-59, in what was the first leg of a three-game road trek. They will next play in front of the hometown faithful on Dec. 2 versus Spring Hill. Their Sun Belt Conference slate gets underway at home against Arkansas State on Dec. 30.

Detroit also opened its season with a win, as it easily dispatched Rochester at home in a 77-54 final. From there, the Titans took to the road for a pair of bouts against teams from power conferences, the first resulting in an 83-66 loss at Oregon, and the latest being a 71-62 setback at nationally-ranked Michigan. Detroit will kick off Horizon League play at Wright State on Jan. 2, 2015.

These two teams met for the first time last season, with the Jaguars taking a 74-58 decision in Mobile. Juwan Howard Jr. led the Titans with a game-high 18 points to go along with 11 rebounds, while Carlton Brundidge finished with 14 points and eight boards.

The Jaguars had three players score in double figures, led by John Brown's 14- point effort, but the team as a whole didn't shoot the ball well and was hammered on the glass in falling at Southern Miss earlier in the week. USA made good on only 37.1 percent of its field goal attempts, which included a dreadful 5-of-27 showing from 3-point range. They also suffered a crippling 44-29 rebounding deficit, while being outscored at the free-throw line, 23-8.

In the opener against Carroll, Brown led the Jags with 22 points, thanks to a 4-of-6 effort from beyond the arc, while Ken Williams added 18 points in draining four treys as well. In all, USA hit 11 3-pointers and shot 45.3 percent from the floor.

Howard scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but his effort went for naught as the Titans fell at intrastate rival Michigan on Thursday. Brandan Kearney pitched in with 14 points and five assists, while Paris Bass came off the bench to tally 12 points and six boards. Significant deficits in both rebounding (37-25) and points from the foul line (16-7) played a role in the outcome for Detroit.

Howard is clearly the Titans' most productive player as he is averaging 18.7 points and 6.0 caroms per contest. Anton Wilson is next with 13.0 ppg, and he comes up with 4.0 rpg, while Bass is netting 11.0 ppg to go with 4.3 rpg for a team that is nearly shooting as well from long distance (.415) as it is the field overall (.437).

Despite playing in relative obscurity, it's worth keeping an eye on Howard as he has all the tools to be a star. Expect him to throw the Titans on his back and lead them back into the win column in front of the hometown faithful.