TOWSON, Md. – Getting 18 points each from Brian Starr and John Davis, the Towson University men's basketball team ended a four-game skid by defeating visiting Delaware, 83-56, in a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) contest Thursday night at SECU Arena.
 
While Starr and Davis, who also finished with nine rebounds, were the catalysts for Towson's first CAA win of the season, senior forward Arnaud William Adala Moto added 10 of his 12 points after intermission to record his third double-double of the season. Adala Moto scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
 
Starr, who was 6-of-8 from the field and 3-of-3 from 3-point distance, complemented his scoring by finishing with four assists and a career best four steals. Jordan McNeil tallied a season-high nine points. Towson win the battle of the benches, 38-18.
 
Records
Delaware         7-11 overall, 0-5 CAA
Towson           9-9, 1-4
 
How It Happened

• Towson shot 58.1 percent (18-for-31) in the second half.
• Overall, the Tigers made 52.5 percent of their shots, their highest percentage against a Division I team this season.
• The Tigers outscored the Blue Hens, 26-10, over the final 10 minutes, 26 seconds.
• Defensively, Towson limited Delaware's leading scorer Ryan Daly to three points in the second half.
• Daly scored 14 of the Blue Hens' 28 first-half points.
• After falling behind 11-4 five minutes into the game, Towson used a 22-5 run to gain control and open a 26-16 advantage with 7:45 remaining.
• During that stretch, Towson scored on 10 of its 11 possessions.
• The Tigers defense also held Delaware scoreless for 5:21 during their game-altering run.
• A short McNeil pull up gave Towson the lead for good, 14-13, with 12:42 left in the first half.
• Davis had a strong individual sequence in which he sprinted back on a fastbreak to force a missed shot. On the next trip down the floor, Davis scored off of an offensive rebound. That helped Towson open a 28-21 lead with 4:47 left in the first half.
• Towson had three dunks in the second half.
• A two-handed one from Mike Morsell off of a fast break, Gorham flush when he drove down lane and threw down a two-handed dunk and an Adala Moto had a finishing flush.

 
Inside the Numbers

• With his nine rebounds, Davis moved past Junior Hairston and into ninth place all-time.
• Davis has 634 rebounds and 992 career points.
• This was the 12th time this season and 49th time in his career Davis has reached double figures in scoring.
• For Starr, it was the third time in six starts he scored at least nine points and his second with double figures.
• Alex Thomas tied his career best with seven rebounds, the sixth time this season he finished with at least six rebounds.
• Deshaun Morman grabbed two steals, his eighth consecutive contest with multiple thefts.
• Adala Moto notched his third double-double of the season and the 11th of his career.
• Three of Adala Moto's career double-doubles have been against Delaware.
• Towson made at least 50 percent of its shots after intermission for the seventh time this season.
• Towson won the battle of the benches, 38-18.
• The Tigers won the rebounding battle, 42-28.
• It was the ninth time this season and second consecutive game, Towson had at least 40 rebounds.
• Towson improved to 23-13 against Delaware in meetings in Towson.
• The Tigers have won three straight over the Blue Hens for the first time since 2010.
• The 27-point margin of victory is Towson's largest over Delaware in the history of the series.

 
Quotable
Towson head coach Pat Skerry on the win
"I am happy for the guys. It was a good win for us. We had a good week of practice after a tough week of playing three road games in six days. Our defense and rebounding was good. When our ball movement is good, our shooting is good. I thought Brian was terrific and John continues to play at a high level. It's good to get Mo back and we still have to get Mike back. I thought Jordan McNeil helped us. He's a high character guy that's been spending a lot of extra time in the gym. Good to see him get rewarded."
 
Starr on playing point guard
"I just kind of went with the offense tonight and took what the defense gave me. I was focused on getting guys involved and take the shots I was given. We emphasized ball movement in practice and I think it showed in the game."
 
Up Next
Towson remains home to host first-place Northeastern Saturday at 2 p.m. It will be Military Appreciation Day sponsored by New Day USA.