TOWSON, Md. ? Head coach Pat Kennedy told his Towson team that its big theme for the year was going to be to “score points” and that's exactly what his squad did as the Tigers piled them up in their 2008-09 season opener against Navy, downing the Midshipmen 86-68 in the Towson Center Friday night.

            “I told our guys the big theme this year has to be score points,” Kennedy said. “Tonight we got them.”

            Junior guard Josh Thornton heard Kennedy loud and clear, matching his career high with a game leading 24 points. He scored 19 points in the final 20 minutes. With the Tigers up by a dozen at the break he pumped in the first eight points of the second half to spark a 21-5 run that catapulted Towson to a 58-32 advantage at the 14:00 mark. Four minutes later with four other Tigers joining the parade Towson built its largest lead of the game, 68-39.

            Sophomore forward Jarrel Smith, seeing his first action in almost two years after transferring to Towson from Colorado State, added a career high 18 points. Sophomore guard Brian Morris, in a similar situation after leaving Richmond for Towson, netted 10 points and a game high eight assists.

            Junior forward Calvin Lee, seeing his first action in a Towson uniform after a two-year career at Allegany Community College, gave the Tigers a big lift off the bench, nearly missing a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. He also recorded a game high six blocks.

            But where the Tigers really shined was on defense. Towson forced 18 Navy turnovers and came up with 11 steals. The Tigers, who ranked among the nation's top 10 in turnovers per game most of last season, committed just seven boots for the game.

            “We had length, speed and quickness tonight,” said Kennedy. “We got after them pretty good.”

            Early on it appeared it might be low scoring event. With both teams feeling the affects of the opening season jitters it was a 7-7 game for the first 5:12 of the contest. The Tigers trailed just once in the game, 7-5. There were four ties before a 9-0 Towson run put the Tigers out front 18-9 at the 10:11 mark. The Midshipmen would get no closer than five (18-13) the rest of the game.

            The Midshipmen were led by Clif Colbert's 14 points off the bench. Navy's bench scored 36 of its 68 points. Kaleo Kina was the only starter in double figures with 10 points. Adam Teague grabbed a game high 13 rebounds.

            The Tigers are in action again Sunday night when they travel to Niagara for a 7:00 p.m. contest against the Purple Eagles.