NEWARK, Del. ? For the first time since joining the Colonial Athletic Association the Tigers are off to a 2-1 start in league play thanks to a gutsy performance Monday night in the Bob Carpenter Center where the Tigers stunned Delaware with a 62-61 victory on freshman Troy Franklin's basket with two seconds left on the clock.
The victory pushed the Tigers to 7-8 on the season and 2-1 in the league, marking the first time Towson has posted a winning mark after its first three CAA games since joining the conference eight years ago. The victory snapped a 12-game road skid for the Tigers against CAA opponents. The loss dropped the Blue Hens, who had won five of their previous six games including victories over Toledo and pre-season CAA favorite Virginia Commonwealth, to 7-8 and 1-2 in the CAA.
Early on the Blue Hens found a soft spot in the Towson zone underneath where 6-9, 240 lb. Jim Ledsome had a field day on the dunks. Ledsome, whose career high was 13 points, scored 12 in the first 20 minutes on slams to help Delaware keep the Tigers at bay. He finished the game with 14 points on 7 for 9 shooting.
There were five lead changes and five ties before Delaware charged ahead 18-13 when Alphonso Dawson tallied six of seven points in a 7-0 run midway through the session. The Blue Hens would hold that lead for the next 31 minutes before Towson could relcaim it.
Delaware forged a six-point lead (22-16) with 8:42 left but the Tigers tightened things up and eventually trailed by three, 30-27, at the break.
The Blue Hens started the second half hot, hitting two treys that quickly opened the lead to 36-27. Coach Pat Kennedy used a timeout that seemed to settle the Tigers and within three minutes Towson narrowed the gap to 40-37.
Delaware increased its lead once again to eight, 54-46, at the 9:21 mark but that's where the Tigers mounted a 12-2 stretch run sparked by a Franklin three-pointer to lift Towson to its first lead since 13-11 in the first half. Franklin's NBA range trey put the Tigers on top, 58-56, with 1:55 remaining.
Dawson returned the lead to the Blue Hens, 59-58, with a foul line jumper with 1:05 left. Jarrell Smith then went to the free throw line courtesy of an intentional foul by Marc Egerson. Smith sank both free throws with 43.6 seconds remaining for a 60-59 Towson lead.
But Delaware came right back on its next possession when Jawan Carter got loose in the paint for a floating jumper with 13 seconds remaining.
The Tigers cleared the ball over half court where Kennedy called a timeout.
“We'd set a play up for Junior Hairtson on the baseline,” Kennedy said. “He was open but Troy couldn't see him and took the ball to the basket himself. That's a Baltimore guard for you. That kid made a big play at the right time.”
Franklin's running bank shot dropped through with 2.1 seconds left. All the Blue Hens could do was try a desperation shot that missed.
Hairston, who did not start the game and was doubtful to even dress because of an illness, came off the bench to tally a game high 17 points in 23 minutes of action. Smith finished with 13 points. Franklin and Tony Durant each added 10 points.
Delaware was led by Dawson with 15. Marc Egerson, the league's second leading scorer and the CAA's top rebounder, finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds.
The Tigers are back in action this Wednesday night when they host the George Mason Patriots at 7:00 p.m. in the Towson Center. The game will be carried in the metropolitan Baltimore area on WBAL (1090 AM) Radio.
