TOWSON, Md. - Think of what you do in the course of your day. With the obvious exceptions of taking steps and breathing, is there anything you do 1,000 times from one midnight to the next?

Probably not and that's where Marcus Damas has you beat. By his estimation, the 6-foot-7 sophomore forward takes 1,000 shots in practice every day, but not necessarily for the reasons you think.

Sure, the extra shooting has improved Damas' range, especially from behind the three-point line where he's hitting a team-high 46 percent of his shots, but it's also made him a greater threat to defenses.

“It's the way I want to play,” said Damas. “I want people to step out more when I play, so I can get to the rack easier. So, I developed the shot over time.”

The ability to take bigger defenders out on the wing as well as use his 200-pound frame to muscle his way on the block has made Damas a dual threat.

Actually, he's a triple threat because he uses his guile and strength to get to the free throw line where Damas leads the Tigers in made free throws.

Damas said, “It gets me to the line more because when I pump fake and drive, the big man usually has to step up.”

Damas, a Bay Shore, N.Y. native in his first season at Towson after transferring from Westchester Community College in New York, has quickly become a bright spot in the Tiger lineup. His 12.8 points per game leads the team while his 6.4 rebounds per contest ranks second to Robert Nwankwo.

Damas has responded well to the high energy, high intensity style of new Coach Pat Skerry.

“That's the best thing we've got going for us,” said Damas. “He's a good coach that won't change anything he does. If things are not going so well, he keeps us going. He keeps us sharp basically. That's the reason I came to Towson.”

And Skerry is at the head of the line of Damas' appreciation society.

“I'm excited about his long term abilities,” said Skerry. “He has a great motor. He plays hard. His shots have improved dramatically. He's getting better as a ballhandler. If he stays focused and grounded, which I think he will, he's going to have a pretty good career here.”

Among the areas Damas is looking to improve in is in leadership, an admittedly difficult concept on a team still looking for its first win.

But, by doing little things like taking extra shots in practice and working to round out his game, Damas, along with Nwankwo and point guard Kris Walden, is trying to teach the young Tigers how to be successful, perhaps as early as tonight's home game with Manhattan.

“Not of all of us know how to win a game at this level,” said Damas. “I'm sure Coach Skerry says that all the time. He's been coaching us on how to win a game at this level. We're all buying in. [A win] is going to happen and it's going to happen soon.”