BALTIMORE – Junior Walter Foster enjoyed a pre-holiday block party in leading Towson to its sixth consecutive victory, a 65-54 conquest of local rival Loyola in a  non-conference men's basketball contest at Reitz Arena Wednesday night.
 
In being one of five Towson players in double-figures, Foster was a fierce force by corralling a career-best 14 rebounds and blocking a career-high five shots to go along with his 10 points in 25 electrifying minutes. Foster's fourth career double-double helped Towson improve to 3-0 against Baltimore schools this season and earn its first win over Loyola since 2007.
 
How it happened

• Leading 41-40 with 11 minutes, 21 seconds remaining, Foster's teammates provided the entertainment by scoring nine consecutive points and holding Loyola scoreless for a 4 minute, 4 second span of the second half with determined defense.
• The many Towson fans in attendance supplied the soothing soundtrack by cheering wildly when Byron Hawkins started the 9-0 surge with an old-fashioned three-point play.
• Over the final 11 minutes of the game, Towson's defense limited Loyola to 23.8 percent shooting (5-for-21).
• Towson opened the game by making five of its first 10 shots.
• John Davis' 3-pointer with 17:36 remaining gave Towson the lead for good, 5-4 and started a 14-2 Tiger burst.
• Leading 21-17, Towson scored seven consecutive points highlighted by a Mike Morsell 3-pointer to open its large edge of the first half, 28-17.
• Towson scored two points over the final 4:27 of the first half.
• Eddie Keith II converted an old-fashioned three-point play despite not having both of his shoes on early in the second half.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Towson has won in three of its last four visits to Loyola.
• Towson placed five players in double figures for the second consecutive game and third time during its six game win streak.
• Foster's rebounds were a season-high for a Towson player and the most since John Davis grabbed 15 boards last season against Goucher.
• Foster is the third different Towson player to record a double-double this season.
• Foster's seven offensive rebounds were a season best.
• Towson has led by double figures at some point in six straight games.
• Towson is 7-0 when it leads at halftime.
• Keith II finished with 12 points, one shy of his career best.
• Hawkins led the Tigers in scoring with 15 points.
• William Adala Moto contributed 13 points and six rebounds.
• Morsell had 11 points and six rebounds.
• Towson won the battle of the benches, 22-16.
• This is the third straight season that Towson has enjoyed a win streak of at least six games.
• Towson tied a season-high with 19 offensive rebounds.

 
Quotable
Bryon Hawkins on his basket that started the decisive 9-0 run
"We guarded better and stuck with what our game plan was. The play wasn't called for me, but I just tried to be aggressive and lift the team up. Everybody fed off of that energy and we continued to push."
 
Keith II on responding to Loyola's 14-6 run over the first eight minutes the second half.
"Coach always says that everybody's going to make runs because they're home. I feel as though we did a great job of weathering the storm and preserving and making our run back at them to finish the game."
 
Up Next
Towson visits Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday, December 18 at 8 p.m.