Detroit — University of Detroit Mercy is attempting to fill its home basketball stadium with Catholics on Feb. 5.

Catholics in Calihan Hall What is it?: University of Detroit Mercy is giving away free and deeply discounted tickets through Catholic parishes and schools. When it is?: The featured game is at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5 at Calihan Hall on UDM’s campus. What's the deal?: UDM is giving up to 50 free tickets away to each parish and school to distribute as they see fit. Any Catholic parishioner can purchase advance tickets at a discount, 4 for $20, by providing their parish bulletin. More Info?: To speak with a ticket agent, call (313) 993-1700. To learn more about the university, visit www.udmercy.edu.

Highlighting a Jesuit vs. Jesuit matchup in a game against Loyola of Chicago, UDM has established a “Catholics in Calihan Hall” day – Calihan hall being their stadium, of course.

The university is giving away hundreds of free game tickets through local Catholic parishes and schools. Each participating parish or school may receive up to 50 tickets to pass out free of charge for their community – likely to be given out through a parish or school athletic program.

If you can’t get a ticket through your parish or school, all you need is a church bulletin to receive a deep discount – four tickets for $20, if purchased in advance.

The idea, says Brandon Longmeier of Titan athletics, is to invite the Catholic community of the area to come see what’s happening, not just with UDM basketball, but with the university itself.

“The game will provide local Catholic parishes and schools the opportunity to see Michigan’s largest Catholic University, and NCAA Division I basketball, up close,” Longmeier says.

UDM is working with the Catholic High School League and the Catholic Youth Organization in hopes of getting a good number of Catholic student-athletes in the stands to see their program in action.

UDM’s initiative is part of a broader outreach, Longmeier adds. The nationwide Jesuit Basketball Spotlight project is a way of “using Jesuit basketball to raise awareness of Jesuit education,” he says.

Indeed, UDM currently is strong both in its academic ventures and sporting ventures. Academically, the school is especially known for its programs in Medicine, business, law and education.

On the basketball court, UDM boasts one of the country’s most dynamic rookies. Ray McCallum, a freshman guard who turned down scholarship offers from more prominent schools in order to play on his dad’s team – Ray McCallum, Sr., is the coach of the Titans – is putting up some impressive stats while leading the Titans in contention for a league title. Their goal is to make it to the well-known “Big Dance” – the annual NCAA tournament.

As for “Catholics in Calihan Hall” day, the Titans hope for a repeat performance of their contest with Loyola in Chicago on Jan. 6. UDM scored an 83-71 win in that contest.

Currently, the Titans are near the top of the standings in their league.