TOWSON, Md. – Now the real fun begins for the Towson University men's basketball team.
 
After successfully navigating their non-conference slate, the Tigers (9-4 overall) will take a leisurely excursion down Interstate 95 South to scenic and beautiful Williamsburg, Virginia to meet William & Mary (8-3) in its 2015-16 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opener. It's a New Year's Eve matinee that promises to be fiercely fought.
 

When	Thursday, December 31
Where	Williamsburg, Va. (Kaplan Arena)
Time	1 p.m.
VIDEO	TribeAthletics.com
Radio	TowsonTigers.com
Series	William & Mary leads 17-13
Last Meeting	William & Mary 65, Towson 50 (Feb. 25, 2015 at W&M)

On the Air
Thursday's game can be heard live on CBS Sports Radio 1300.  Spiro Morekas will provide the play-by-play. 
 
Skerry on the Radio
Head Coach Pat Skerry can be heard on 10.5.7 the Fan every Tuesday at 12:25 during the 2015-16 season.  Skerry will talk with Vinny and Rob and everything Towson basketball.
 
Numbers to Know
3 times this season Byron Hawkins has scored 20 or more points in a game.
8 consecutive games William Adala Moto has scored in double figures.
14.0 points per game average for Mike Morsell in Towson's last two games. He's shooting 60 percent (12-for-20).
30.7 paint points per game for Towson.
64 blocked shots as a team for the Tigers.
 
vs. William & Mary
This will be the 31st career meeting between William & Mary and Towson. William & Mary leads the all-time series, 17-13. The Tribe has won three straight contests over Towson, including sweeping the season series last season with an 85-72 win at Towson and 65-50 win at W&M.
 
CAA Openers
Under Skerry, the Tigers are 2-2 all-time in CAA openers.
 
CAA Non-Conference Excellence
The CAA has turned in one of the strongest non-conference performances in conference history with the 10 squads putting together a 73-42 overall record. The CAA is ranked eighth among the nation's 32 Division I conferences, which is its highest ranking ever at this point in the season. The CAA is one of only eight conferences with five teams among the top 100 in RPI, along with the ACC (9), Atlantic 10 (5), Big 12 (8), Big East (5), Big Ten (10), Pac 12 (10) and SEC (9). Furthermore, eight of the 10 schools won at least eight non-conference contests.
 
Making History
Towson's 9-4 record is the best in program history since it became a Division I program during the 1979-80 season.
 
Front Runners
Towson never trailed in victories over Sacred Heart, Bradley, Rio Grande and UMBC...In its last five home games, Towson hasn't trailed in the second half.
 
Near the Top of the CAA
Through 13 games, Towson leads the CAA in scoring defense (62.8), field goal percentage defense (38.9), rebounding margin (+8.2), offensive rebounds (15.5) and offensive rebounding percentage (40.5). The Tigers are second in the CAA in rebounding (41.6) and blocked shots (4.9). Towson is third in 3-point field goal defense (30.3).
 
Nationally-Speaking
Towson is ranked among the top 50 nationally in several categories. The Tigers are 17th in total rebounds (541), 11th in free-throw attempts (337), seventh in offensive rebounding (15.4), 35th in made free throws (224), 25th in scoring defense (62.8), 36th in total blocks (64), 27th in rebounding margin (8.2), 40th in rebounds per game (41.62), 42nd in field goal percentage defense (38.9) and 47th in 3-point field goal percentage (30.3).
 
Five in Double Figures
Towson put five players in double figures in victories over Gallaudet (Mike Morsell 16 points, Arnaud William Adala Moto 14, Jordan McNeill 14, Timajh Parker-Rivera 13, Byron Hawkins 13), Sacred Heart (Adala Moto 16, Walter Foster 15, Morsell 11, Parker-Rivera 11, John Davis 10), Loyola (Hawkins 15, Adala Moto 13, Keith II 12, Morsell 11, Foster 10) and Rio Grande (Hawkins 13, Davis 13, Adala Moto 12, Foster & Morsell 11).  It marked the seventh time in the last three seasons Towson had five players score in double figures. Four of those times have occurred during Towson's last eight games.
 
Scouting William & Mary
The Tribe was picked to finish fourth in the CAA preseason poll. Last season, the Tribe advanced to the CAA title game before falling to Northeastern. The Tribe were one of four teams last season that tied for last season's regular season title with a 12-6 mark. The Tribe's top players this season have been junior Daniel Dixon, junior Omar Prewitt and senior Terry Tarpey. Dixon hit the game-winning 3-pointer, his fifth of the game, in OT with 3.4 seconds left against High Point. Dixon currently ranks 24th nationally averaging 3.3 3-pointers made per game. He also ranks 38th nationally at 45.2 percent from long range. Prewitt, who leads W&M at 17.4 points per game, has scored in double figures in all 10 games this season. He became the 38th 1,000-point scorer in W&M history during its 88-84 win over Central Michigan on Tuesday night. Tarpey tied a career-high swiping six steals in the win over High Point. He ranks third nationally in steals per game, and according to KenPom.com, is fourth in the country in steal percentage. One of W&M's signature victories this season was an 85-68 road victory over NC State. The Tribe's three losses were to Dayton, Howard and Virginia.
 
Up Next
Towson hosts Hofstra Saturday night at 7 p.m. It'll be the first of two consecutive home games for the Tigers, who welcome UNCW to SECU Arena on Thursday, Jan. 7.