TOWSON, Md. – Eddie Keith II always enjoys the holiday season because it offers an opportunity to provide for others, one of his strongest attributes.
 
As a starting point guard for the Towson University men's basketball team, the junior is used to bringing joy to others. He distributes the ball, plays good defense, makes good decisions, and directs the team. He never worries about personal statistics. His skills will be on display as Towson takes the quick trip down Interstate 95 to UMBC for its final non-conference road game.
 

When:	Saturday, December 17
Where	RAC Arena -- Catonsville, Md,
Time:	7 p.m.
Records:	Towson (6-4); UMBC (7-2)
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300 AM
TV/Video:	ESPN3 (Gary Stein & John Feinstein)
Series History:	Towson leads 37-20 (Towson has won 3 straight)
Last Meeting:	Towson won 91-65 on Dec. 23, 2015 at SECU Arena
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

Keith, a nominee for the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Allstate Insurance Company Good Works Teams^®, does plenty around the holidays in his hometown of Orlando. He has donated brand-new sneakers to those who are less fortunate and helped feed the homeless.
 
"When I go home, I enjoy giving back to the community," Keith said. "It makes me happy and I am glad that I have the opportunity to make a difference. It's a blessing to be in a position where you have an impact and bring smiles to others. It's something I don't take for granted."
 
Keith has been playing basketball for a long time. He got into the sport by watching basketball games while sitting in his father's lap as a youngster. Keith soaked up all of the knowledge from the commentators and incorporated that while developing his basketball skills.
 
Keith's focus is always on others, which is what he prefers. While making others' dreams come true, Keith is living out his.
 
"Playing Division I basketball was always my dream," Keith said. "Being able to start just shows all my hard work has paid off. It's only 353 Division I starting point guards across the nation and to be one of them is a huge blessing. I don't take it lightly and it keeps me working harder."
 
With Towson in the middle of playing three games in a five-day period, Keith won't have much time at home during the holidays. However, he plans to make the most of it before returning back to campus to help the Tigers begin Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) conference play.
 
"This is always a special time for me," Keith said. "I get to go home and spend time with my family. Growing up, I just always hung around family and enjoyed opening presents. I also enjoyed eating my parents cooking too."
 
Keith embodies the unselfish spirit of the Tigers. He is one of four players with at least 20 assists on the season. Keith, Arnaud William Adala Moto and Mike Morsell have 20 assists each while Deshaun Morman leads Towson with 22 helpers this season.
 
Against Fairleigh Dickinson in its last game, Keith showcased his scoring prowess and leadership to help Towson rally from a 10-point halftime deficit. In addition to finishing with a season-high 13 points, Keith added six rebounds and two blocked shots in 29 minutes.
 
Starting Five
4 double-doubles by John Davis to lead the CAA.
5 20-point games by Mike Morsell in Towson's first 10 games.
7 consecutive wins by Towson against Baltimore-area schools.
11 points in consecutive games by Alex Thomas.
80.0 combined winning percentage of Towson's final four December opponents: UMBC (7-2), Nevada (9-2), Iona (7-3) and UNCW (9-1).
 
A Look At UMBC
UMBC is off to its best start in program history at 7-2. The Retrievers are also 4-0 at home this season and have scored 90 or more points in all four home games. UMBC is averaging 93.2 points in its four home games. In its last game on Saturday, a 78-75 road loss to Richmond, junior guard Jairus Lyles scored a game-high 29 points. UMBC also built a 14-point second half lead. For the season, Lyles leads UMBC in scoring with a 22.3 point per game average. Also averaging double figures for UMBC are Joe Sherburne (14.2 points per game) and Will Darley (11.8). Nolan Gerrity leads UMBC in rebounding (5.9).
 
Nationally Speaking
Towson is ranked in top 50 nationally in offensive rebounds per game (15th, 14.6), field-goal percentage defense (23rd, 37.9), rebound margin (16th, 8.9), free throw attempts (9th, 287.0), free throws made (25th, 192.0), and rebounds (42nd, 40.4). Individually, John Davis is 28th in double-doubles. Morsell is 25th in free-throw attempts (72) and 36th in made free throws (53). Arnaud William Adala Moto is 47th in free throws made (49) and 50th in free throw attempts (64). 
 
Davis Thriving
John Davis has scored in double figures in five consecutive games. Davis started the homestand by posting consecutive double-doubles against Stony Brook (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Robert Morris (18, 10) for the first time since Jan. 22-24, 2015. Additionally, he has scored in double figures in six straight games. The next game he plays, it will be his 100th career contest. Davis needs 16 rebounds to pass Steffan Bunsavage and into 10th place all-time in program history.
 
Who Needs the Three?
Towson defeated FDU, 90-87 without making a 3-pointer. Towson was 0-for-7. The last time Towson scored 90 points without making a 3-pointer was during a 90-75 win over Navy on Dec. 29, 1990 in a game played in Pensacola, Florida. The Tigers were 0-for-4 from deep in that game.
 
800 Ways To Score...Choose One
Towson has three players that have scored at least 800 points: Arnuad William Adala Moto (993), John Davis (914) and Mike Morsell (812).
 
Blocked Shots
Towson leads the CAA with 43 blocked shots. The Tigers average 4.3 blocks per game. They blocked a season best eight shots last Saturday against FDU. Davis, Keith and Morsell had two blocked shots each.
 
Up Next
Towson heads to Las Vegas to compete in the South Point Holiday Classic. The Tigers will meet Nevada on Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.