MEDFORD, Mass. – As soon as the Towson University men's basketball Academy bus pulled up to Cousens Gymnasium on the Tufts University campus Friday afternoon, the memories came rushing back for fifth-year head coach Pat Skerry.
 
"It's good to be back," Skerry said with a smile. "Lots of fond memories here for me like sneaking into the gym and playing pick-up games when I was a kid and obviously playing games here. I got to know one of the security guards, Chris, who used to open up the backdoor for me on Saturdays so that I could play pick-up with a lot of the college guys. He would let in me because I didn't have a membership or wasn't a student here yet."
 

When	Saturday, January 23, 2016
Where	Boston, Mass. (Matthews Arena)
Time	1 p.m.
Team Records	Towson (13-7, 4-3 CAA), Northeastern (12-8, 4-3)
Radio	TowsonTigers.com
Series	Northeastern leads the series, 18-12
Last Meeting	Northeastern 69, Towson 62 (February 4, 2015)

 
Friday's Towson team practice was special for Skerry, who grew up less than two miles from his alma mater where he starred for the Jumbos in the late 80s and early 90s. The Tigers enjoyed a spirited workout in preparation for Saturday's game at Northeastern University.
 
Wearing a white Towson pullover, Skerry chatted with his former coach Bob Sheldon, exchanged stories with Tufts staff members, laughed and enjoyed being back in a familiar place. The trip home was capped with lunch from Bob's, one of Skerry's favorite sandwich shops growing up.
 
He left his mark at Tufts by dishing a school-record 650 assists during his career - a mark that still ranks as the 17th best in NCAA Division III history. His 198 assists in 1990-91 is a Tufts single-season record. He also is fifth on the school's career steals list with 95.
 
Skerry enjoyed revisiting his sanctuary, which is one of New England's historic hidden treasures. With its high, vaulted roof and bench seating, Cousens Gym was opened in 1932 at the height of the Great Depression. Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird filmed a commercial in the charming old gym for a Massachusetts company in the late 1980s. Skerry helped Tufts enjoy a unique home court advantage.
 
"I remember the visiting team having to walk up about 200 flights of stairs to get to this hot locker room," Skerry said. "Opposing teams used to tell me how much they hated it here. However, I got a lot of assists here and a few baskets, so it was fun. For us, it's about a routine and getting our work done early so that the guys can get off their feet for as long as possible so we appreciate the Tufts staff for accommodating us today."
 
Quick Hitters

• This will be the 31st meeting between Northeastern and Towson.
• Northeastern leads the all-time series over Towson, 18-12.
• Under head coach Pat Skerry, Towson is 1-7 against Northeastern.
• The Huskies have won eight of the last nine meetings over the Tigers.
• The Tigers are 4-9 all-time at Mathews Arena. They last won there on Feb. 20, 2014, 79-70.
• Towson will play four of their next five games on the road.
• After participating in the NCAA Tournament last season, Northeastern was picked third in the CAA coaches' poll.
• Towson has held its last two opponents to under 20 points in the first half: Drexel (12) and Charleston (18).
• Towson has won 12 of its last 16 games.
• Northeastern made a school record 17 3-pointers in Thursday's 96-92 triple overtime loss to Hofstra.
• Northeastern has made at least 10 3-pointers in a game 10 times this season.
• William Adala Moto leads Towson in scoring (14.4 points per game) and rebounding (8.3).
• David Walker (17.8 points per game) and Qunicy Ford (16.7) are the highest scoring CAA duo in the conference. They are first and fifth, respectively in conference scoring.

 
Leaders of the CAA
Through 20 games, Towson leads the CAA in scoring defense (63.8), rebounding (41.2), rebounding margin (+7.5), offensive rebounds (14.4), field goal percentage defense (39.0) and offensive rebounding percentage (.382). The Tigers are third in the CAA in blocked shots (5.2) and 3-point field goal defense (31.2).
 
Parker-Rivera Leaving Mark at TU
Senior Timajh Parker-Rivera has been a part of 68 wins in his fi rst three seasons as a Tiger. With seven more wins, TJ can become the winningest player in Towson history. Parker-Rivera is also ninth in school history in rebounding (601) and seventh in blocked shots (112). Next up for Parker-Rivera to pass in rebounding is Junior Hairston's total of 629 and blocked shots is Bobby Washington's mark of 126. He has also played in 119 career games, which is tied for most all-time with Robert Nwankwo and Rocky Coleman.
 
Up Next
Towson visits Drexel Thursday night at 7 p.m.