TOWSON, Md. – Like rapper Drake, the Towson University men's basketball team will go from "0 to 100" when it takes the quick trip down Interstate 95, through the nation's capital, and across the Potomac River to visit George Mason in its 2016-17 season opener.
 
Forget being in chill mode, the tight-knit, tough, and tenacious Tigers are hyped to begin a much anticipated season of high expectations. Towson's excited to start what it believes will be a special campaign. With six veterans returning, including three players who were all-conference selections at some point during their careers, Towson was picked second in the preseason Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) poll.
 

When:	Saturday, November 12
Where	Eagle Bank Arena-- Fairfax, Va.
Time:	7 p.m.
Records:	Towson (0-0, 20-13 in 2015-16); George Mason (0-0, 11-21)
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300 AM
Series History:	George Mason leads 32-10 (Towson has won 2 straight)
Last Meeting:	Towson won 75-54 on Dec. 2, 2015 at SECU Arena

 
The Tigers, coming off of their second 20-win season in three years, will be tested early and often by a savage slate of solid non-conference opponents. This game marks the start of a four-game road trip that also include stops to Morgan State, Maryland and Boston College.
 
In addition to its black road uniforms, the Tigers are packing a quiet swagger, intense hunger for success and its maniacal Rock of Gibraltar-like defense with them for their season opener.
 
Senior Arnaud William Adala Moto and junior Mike Morsell earned preseason recognition from the CAA last month during media day.  Adala Moto was selected to the preseason All-CAA first-team, while Morsell was named to the second team. Adala Moto and Morsell are two of three Towson players, along with senior John Davis, who enter the season with over 600 career points each. They were all double digit scorers last season for the Tigers.
 
The Tigers, who are Grand Canyon deep, resemble a bunch of brilliant studio musicians without a marquee solo act. Head coach Pat Skerry, who is entering his sixth year, and his hard-working and dedicated staff are the conductors of Towson's wonderful orchestra. They are poised to make sure Towson hits every high note this season.
 
The players believe in each other, the coaches, and are confident it will conquer the many challenges waiting for the Tigers this season.

Open Mic
"Our excitement level for the season is through the roof," Adala Moto said. "We feel like this is our year. One of our biggest goals this year is to win the CAA championship. This is probably the tightest team in terms of chemistry that I've ever been a part of. I feel like we've done everything possible during preseason to prepare for the season. Our expectations and our coaches' expectations of us match each other."
 
Series Notes

• Towson and George Mason are meeting for the 43rd time.
• Towson cruised to a 75-54 victory last season at SECU Arena on Dec. 2, 2015.
• Morsell led the Tigers with 20 points in last year's win over GMU.
• This is Towson's first visit to GMU since an 85-81 overtime victory on Feb. 26, 2013.
• This is the second straight season Towson is starting the season on the road against an Atlantic-10 foe. The Tigers lost 78-76 to La Salle.
• Towson and George Mason used to members of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).

Starting Five
4 opponents Towson will play for the first time in program history (Stony Brook, Boston College, Iona and Nevada).
15 career double-doubles for John Davis.
19 consecutive games in which Towson has outrebounded its opponents.
23 times Adala Moto scored in double figures last season for the Tigers.
42 conference wins since the start of the 2012-13 season, the most of any CAA school.
 
A Look At George Mason
Picked to finish 12th in the 14-team Atlantic-10 Conference, George Mason returns 10 letterwinners and adds five freshmen for the 2016-17 season. The Patriots are paced by Atlantic All-Rookie guard Otis Livingston II (11.9 ppg, 3.6 apg). Senior Marquise Moore (11.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg) also returns along with sophomore Jaire Grayer (9.5 ppg).Head coach Dave Paulsen enters his second year at the helm. The Patriots are looking to build off a 2015-16 season in which they went 11-21 and picked up notable wins against VCU, Davidson, Ole Miss and Oklahoma State.
 
CAA Tournament Changing Locations
After spending the last three years hosting the tournament at Royal Farms Arena in downtown Baltimore, The Colonial Athletic Association has reached an Agreement with the Charleston Area Sports Commission, North Charleston Coliseum and the College of Charleston to conduct the 2017, 2018 and 2019 CAA Men's Basketball Championships at the Coliseum. The first CAA Men's Basketball Championship in Charleston will be held March 3-6, 2017. Future tournament dates are March 2-5, 2018 and March 8-11, 2019.
 
Chairmen of the Boards
Towson led the CAA and ranked 22nd in Division I in rebounding margin (+7.2 rpg.). Towson outrebounded its final 19 opponents.  Towson was also fifth nationally in offensive rebounding.
 
600 Ways To Score...Choose One
Towson enters the season with three players that have scored at least 600 points: Adala Moto (860), Davis (796), and Morsell (633).
 
Morsell's Summer
Morsell participated in the prestigious Under Armour All-America Camp at the Levine Center on the campus of Queens University in Charlotte (N.C.). Morsell tested his skills against collegiate players from the likes of Maryland, Villanova, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Georgetown and more.
 
New Faces In 2016-17
Towson will have seven new players suiting up this season including three transfers: Deshaun Morman (Cincinnati), Van Rolle (Coppin State), and Brian Starr (Colby Kansas Community College). Dennis Turnstall was redshirted last season. Morman, Rolle and Turnstall practiced with the Tigers last season. The three incoming freshmen are Zane Martin, J.J. Matthews, and Justin Gorham. Staff-wise, Pat O'Connell joins the Tigers as an assistant coach and Parfait Bitee comes aboard as the Director of Student-Athlete Development. Oliver Brown moves into a new role as a the Director of Basketball Operations.
 
Skerry on SportsCenter
Skerry appeared on ESPN's SportsCenter on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016 for a 3 minute, 51 second segment to discuss the Tigers' registering to vote and participation in the 2016 Presidential Election.
 
Up Next
Towson visits Morgan State Tuesday night at 7 p.m.