PHILADELPHIA – For most of the game, Drexel shot lights out. However, when it mattered most the Towson University men's basketball team shut off the electricity and left the Dragons in the dark to depart west Philadelphia with a 77-70 victory in a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) contest Thursday night at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
 
Towson (15-7 overall, 6-3 CAA) sprinted to the finish by ending the game with an 18-8 run to extend its CAA road winning streak to three games. The Tigers are 4-1 in CAA road games and are in the thick of the conference race at the halfway point. Towson's defense got stronger, tighter and suffocated the Dragons into a flurry of tough shots down the stretch.
 
How It Happened

• Both teams sizzled from the field: Towson made 50 percent of its shots (22-for-44) and Drexel shot 55.3 percent (25-for-45).
• Towson placed three players in double figures led by sophomore Byron Hawkins' game-high 23 points.
• Junior William Adala Moto and sophomore Mike Morsell finished with 16 points each for the Tigers.
• Over the final six minutes, Towson limited Drexel to 2-for-9 shooting and forced four turnovers.
• Meanwhile, offensively during that stretch, Towson was 4-for-6 from the field and 9-for-10 from the foul line.
• Hawkins drained a 3-pointer with 5:54 remaining that gave Towson the lead for good, 64-62.
• Drexel opened the second half by making eight of its first 10 shots.
• Drexel surged to an early 16-6 advantage seven minutes into the game.
• The Tigers committed three turnovers on its first eight possessions and made one of its first field goals.
• Hawkins had a strong opening 20 minutes with eight points, four rebounds and three assists.
• Drexel made 57.1 percent of its shots (12-of-21) in the first half.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Despite trailing for most of the first half, the Tigers enjoyed a 36-35 halftime edge.
• Towson is 14-0 when leading at halftime.
• Hawkins topped 20 or more points for the fourth time this season and first since he scored 20 against Coppin State on Nov. 29.
• Adala-Moto reached double digits in scoring for the 16th time in Towson's last 17 games.
• Adala-Moto sank a career-best three 3-pointers.
• Morsell reached double digits for the 16th time this season.
• Walter Foster blocked two shots, the ninth time this season with multiple blocks in a game.
• Eddie Keith II scored five of his seven points in the second half.
• Towson made its first five three-point shot attempts in the second half.
• It was the fourth time this season, Towson has shot 50 percent or better in a game.
• The Tigers have made at least nine three-pointers in a game four times this season.
• Towson won the battle of the benches, 15-5.
• There were 11 changes and nine ties.
• The Tigers turned 14 Drexel turnovers into 19 points.
• Towson has won in three of its last four visits to Drexel.
• This is the Tigers second season sweep of Drexel in three years.
• Towson has won 14 of its last 18 games.

 
Up Next
Towson hosts Delaware Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be televised live on Comcast Sportsnet.