LAS VEGAS – The Towson University men's basketball team concludes its nonconference schedule with a pair of pre-Christmas tests against Nevada and Iona in the South Point Holiday Classic.
 
Towson enters the tournament on a roll having won its last three games, including last Saturday's dramatic 73-72 road victory over UMBC. The Tigers will have their hands full as they battle Nevada and Iona for the first time in program history.
 
Towson's encounter with Nevada will be its first against a Mountain West opponent in program history. The Tigers did play current Mountain West member New Mexico in 1989. However, the Lobos were members of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) at the time of the contest.
 

When:	Wednesday & Thursday, Dec. 21-22, 2016
Where	South Point Arena -- Las Vegas, Nev.
Time:	5:30 p.m. ET (Wed.) & 3:00 p.m. ET (Thur.)
Records:	Towson (7-4); Nevada (9-2); Iona (7-3)
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300 AM
Series History:	Towson has never played Nevada or Iona
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

Starting Five
7 consecutive games that John Davis has scored in double figures.
17 steals for Deshaun Morman to lead Towson this season. His average of 1.5 steals per outing is tied for second in the CAA.
34.9 average points in the paint for the Tigers this season. Towson has scored at least 30 paint points in a game six times this season.
60.6 shooting percentage (37-for-61) in the second half of its last two games for Towson.
600 combined free throw attempts for Towson (309) and Nevada (291) this season.
 
About the South Point Holiday Classic
This is the eighth year of the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic. The first Holiday Hoops Classic at the South Point Hotel and Casino was held in 2009. The South Point Arena, which is used 44 weeks out the year for equestrian events, is a 3,500 seat facility (for basketball - 4,500 for equestrian) where fans are close action. Twenty three different Division I men's teams have participated in the Holiday Hoops Classic, seven of those teams making two appearances, including this year's teams from Iona and UCSB. Both Iona and UCSB were in the event last year. (Iona went 0-2, losing to Akron and UCSB). The highest ranked men's team to play here was Steve Fisher's/Kawhi Leonard's San Diego State team in 2010 when they beat both IUPUI and San Francisco. Geographically speaking, teams have been very evenly dispersed over the eight years with 12 being from east of the Mississippi and 11 from the west of the Mississippi. Towson is the first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) team to participate in the South Point Holiday Classic.
 
Well, Isn't He Grand
Senior forward Arnaud William Adala Moto scored his 1,000th career point during Towson's win over UMBC. He scored the milestone basket with 17 minutes, 37 seconds remaining against the Retrievers. Adala-Moto has 1,006 career points. He scored 402 in his first two years at Wake Forest and has scored 604 in 44 games for the Tigers. During his career, Adala Moto has 32 career double figure scoring games and he has hit for at least 20 points nine times (all at Towson). Adala Moto also has 10 career double-doubles all at Towson.
 
Open Mic
Adala Moto on scoring his 1,000th career point and competing this week in Las Vegas
"It means a lot to me and it feels good to know that my hard work has paid off. We are excited to play against two really good teams. We believe that both Iona and Nevada are postseason teams and we believe we are as well. These games will test us and get us ready for conference play. We're excited about the challenges ahead of us."
 
Plenty in Reserve
Largely fueled by Davis' brilliance, Towson's bench brigade averages 23.1 points per game. Davis leads the way scoring at an 11.6 point per game clip, which is third on the team. During Saturday's win over UMBC every Tiger who played scored. The Tiger bench outscored UMBC, 23-8. Nine of the 10 players saw at least 10 minutes of action against UMBC.
 
Late December Tests
Towson's final three December opponents have RPIs under 100: UNCW (11), Nevada (29) and Iona (96). UNCW is ranked fifth in the latest College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll while Iona is 23rd. Last season, Iona and Nevada each won 20 games. Iona won the MAAC and competed in the NCAA Tournament. Meanwhile, Nevada won the College Basketball Insider (CBI) postseason tournament.
 
Introducing Nevada
Members of the Mountain West Conference, Nevada enters the game with a four-game winning streak and victories in nine of its last 10 outings. Nevada was picked to finish second in the Mountain West preseason poll. Nevada's losses were to St. Mary's and Iona. In its last game, the Wolfpack made a season-high 13 3-pointers during their 76-69 win over UC Irvine. Jordan Caroline also had 15 points and 13 rebounds for Nevada, members of the Mountain West Conference. The Wolfpack have four players averaging double figures: Marcus Marshall (20.1 ppg.), Cameron Oliver (16.2), D.J. Fenner (12.3), and Caroline (11.7). Lindsey Drew averages 5.8 assists per game. Oliver is ninth nationally in blocked shots.
 
Introducing Iona
Iona is ranked 23rd in the latest College Insider mid-major top 25 poll. The Gaels are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Iona has won seven of its last eight games, including three straight following its 94-80 win over NJIT in its last outing. Jordan Washington (27 points) and Jon Severe (21) led Iona, which had 19 assists on its 29 baskets.  Washington leads Iona in scoring (17.9) and rebounding (6.6). Also averaging double-digits are Sam Cassell Jr. (12.3) and Severe (12.0). Iona is one of the best 3-point shooting squads in the nation, averaging 9.9 per game.
 
Comeback Tigers
Towson has rallied from double-digit halftime deficits in each of its last two games to post victories. Towson overcame a 10-point halftime deficit (43-33) to beat FDU 90-87 on Dec. 10 and a 13-point halftime deficit (40-27) to edge UMBC 73-72 on Dec. 17.
 
Sensational Second Halves
The Tigers made 19 of 29 shots (65.5 percent) in the second half against UMBC. It was their highest shooting second half of the season. Towson made 63 percent of its shots (17-for-27) against Morgan State. Towson has shot at least 50 percent in the second half five times this season.
 
Nationally Speaking
Towson is ranked in top 50 nationally in offensive rebounds per game (21st, 14.0), field-goal percentage defense (34th, 38.8), rebound margin (18th, 8.7), free throw attempts (15th, 309.0), free throws made (28th, 208.0), and rebounds (46th, 40.0).
 
Individually, Davis is 28th in double-doubles and he leads the CAA in that category. He has four double-doubles. Mike Morsell is 26th in free-throw attempts (78) and 31st in made free throws (59). Adala Moto is 42nd in free throws made (54) and 41st in free throw attempts (71). 
 
800 Ways To Score...Choose One
Towson has three players that have scored at least 800 career points: Arnuad William Adala Moto (1,006), John Davis (924) and Mike Morsell (826).
 
Battle for Greater Baltimore
Over the last three seasons, Towson is 16-2 against schools in the state of Maryland. The Tigers have won eight straight against Baltimore area programs.
 
Upcoming Home Promotional Games
Healthcare Professions Appreciation Day vs. Delaware (Thur., Jan. 12; 7 p.m.)
Military Appreciation presented by New Day vs. Northeastern (Sat., Jan. 14; 2 p.m. Comcast Sportsnet)
Educators Appreciation vs. College of Charleston (Thur., Jan. 26; 7 p.m.)
Autism Awareness Game vs. William & Mary (Sat., Feb. 4., 4 p.m. Comcast Sportsnet)
To purchase tickets CLICK HERE
 
Up Next
Towson begins CAA play when it hosts preseason favorite UNCW on Saturday, Dec. 31 at noon.