TOWSON, Md. – Sophomore guard Mike Morsell detonated in the second half by scoring 16 of his career-high 20 points to fuel Towson University's impressive 75-54 victory over George Mason in a non-conference men's basketball game at SECU Arena Wednesday night.
 
Morsell's turbo-charged post-intermission performance was contagious as Towson opened with 10 consecutive points, outscored George Mason by 19 and shot a sizzling 59.3 percent to extend its winning streak to four games.
 
How it Happened

•          Towson scored a season best 45 points after intermission to raise its overall record to 5-3.
•          The Tigers never trailed in the second half.
•          Towson led by double digits for the final 9 minutes, 54 seconds of the contest.
•          Towson scored its first six points of the contest in the paint to grab an early 6-2 advantage.
•          George Mason's Marko Gujanicic scored nine points during an 11-0 George Mason run in the first half.
•          John Davis scored a layup to give Towson its first lead, 25-23, with 1:25 left in the first half to finish a 12-2 burst. It was the Tigers' first lead since it held a 6-4 edge early in the game.
•          The Tigers made their final four field goals of the first half to grab a 30-28 halftime lead.
•          Towson charged out the locker room with a 10-0 burst in the opening 2:16 by getting baskets from four different players.
•          Gujanicic pulled the Patriots to within, 45-40, with 11:58 remaining following an old-fashioned 3-point play. He led George Mason with 12 points.
•          Towson's defense fueled a decisive 13-3 run over a 5:02 stretch of the second half that left the Tigers with a 58-43 bulge with 7:06 remaining.
•          Timajh Parker-Rivera brought the crowd out of its seats with a pair of vicious blocked shots late in the contest.
•          Morsell capped the victory and his special evening with a 3-pointer from 27 feet with 2:02 remaining.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Towson is 3-0 at SECU Arena this season and 24-10 all-time.
• Towson improved to 5-0 when leading at halftime.
• The Tigers have won two consecutive games against George Mason.
• This was Towson's first home win over George Mason since 1992, prior to any current member of the team being born.
• During its 11-0 run in the first half, George Mason was 5-of-5 from the field.
• Towson committed a season-low five turnovers, the third time this season it finished with single-digits in that category.
• Towson forced four turnovers during a stretch when it held the Patriots scoreless for 5:27 in the first half.
• Towson has had a double-digit advantage at some point in four consecutive games.
• With 13 points, John Davis has reached double figures for the fourth time this season.
• Arnaud William Adala Moto scored in double figures for the third-straight game and fifth time this season with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting.
• It was the third-straight game that Adala Moto has made at least 50 percent of his shots. He is shooting 56 percent (18-for-32) in his last three games.
• Second time this season, Towson has had at least four players score double figures in a game.
• Morsell was 5-for-9 shooting in the second half with two 3-pointers and five of his six rebounds.
• Towson was 16-for-27 from the field after intermission.
• Byron Hawkins reached double figures in scoring for the seventh time this season and for the fifth straight game with 11 points.
• This was the third time this season Towson made at least seven 3-pointers in a game.
• Despite being outrebounded, 42-37, Towson made the most of its 12 offensive rebounds by turning them into 20 second chance points
• Towson scored 16 points off of 13 George Mason turnovers.

Coach Pat Skerry
"It was a good win and I am proud of my guys. The second half was the best basketball we've played this season. We're not surprised by this victory because I believe we have a chance to be a good club, but we still have a long way to go. Our ball movement was better tonight and we had good shot selection. We guarded well, which is something we take great pride in. I though (Alex) Thomas and (Walter) Foster did a terrific job of post defense on (6 foot, 11 inch Shavon Thompson), which is no easy task."

Morsell on his second half performance
 "The past few games were bad, but coach Skerry just told me to take better shots. I think I was rushing them in the beginning of the season, but now I am letting the game come to me now."

Next
The Tigers return to SECU Arena Saturday, Dec. 5 when they play host to Sacred Heart.  Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.