TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University men's basketball team is alive and well following its second consecutive victory, a hard-earned 74-67 decision over visiting Northeastern in a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game at SECU Arena Saturday afternoon.
Left for dead after opening the CAA schedule with four consecutive losses, Towson provided a rude reminder that it will be a still be a formidable force over its remaining 12 games after defeating a Northeastern squad that already owned non-conference road wins at Connecticut and Michigan State.
Arnaud William Adala Moto's season-high 24-point performance helped Towson bring Northeastern's eight-game winning streak to a halt. He had plenty of help as
John Davis finished with 16 points, including the 1,000th of his distinguished career as the Tigers handed Northeastern its first CAA loss of the season.
Eddie Keith II scored 10 points and
Jordan McNeil added nine points to lead Towson's bench brigade, which outscored Northeastern, 37-12.
Records
Northeastern 12-6 overall, 5-1 CAA
Towson 10-9, 2-4
How It Happened
- Towson never trailed.
- Towson absorbed a 13-0 Northeastern run and a 5 minute, 28 second scoring drought during the second half.
- Northeastern pulled to within two points on two occasions in the second half, the last being 51-49 with 9 minutes, 52 seconds remaining.
- The Tigers made several big plays down the stretch to hold off the Huskies.
- Alex Thomas scored two consecutive baskets to help Towson open a 55-49 edge.
- Later, Keith banked in a 3-pointer from deep to give Towson a 62-52 lead with 5:26 left.
- After hitting the shot, Keith shoulder-shrugged like Michael Jordan in the 1992 NBA Finals as he ran back down the floor.
- Mike Morsell made a clutch 3-pointer to give Towson a 68-62 lead, delivered a beautiful pass out of a triple-team that led to a Davis dunk and came up with a steal in the final 72 seconds to help Towson subdue the Huskies.
- The Tigers made 48.1 percent of their shots (25-for-52).
- Adala Moto was an equal opportunity scorer as he notched 12 points in each half.
- He was 6-for-11 from the field and 12-of-13 from the foul line.
- The Tigers raced to a 25-7 lead 11 minutes into the game.
- Towson made six of seven shots during an incredible 3:43 span of the first half to open its 18-point lead.
- Leading 15-7, Keith knocked down a 3-pointer to begin a 10-0 run.
- Towson's defense forced four turnovers in the first six minutes.
Inside the Numbers
- Davis has 1,009 career points.
- Adala Moto reached double figures in consecutive games for the first time since he did it against FDU and UMBC in December, a stretch of seven games.
- Adala Moto also became Towson's first 20-point scorer in nine games.
- He has scored in double figures 13 times this season and 36 times in his career.
- Davis reached double figures in scoring for the third consecutive game and 50th time in his career.
- Davis scored his milestone basket with 2:07 remaining in the first half on a reverse layup.
- Keith reached double figures in scoring for the second time this season.
- Davis and Keith had two blocks each.
- Morsell led Towson with four assists.
- Deshaun Morman had a career best six rebounds.
- McNeil scored all nine of his points in the first half to help Towson open its lead to 18 points.
- This was Towson's first home win over Northeastern since a 77-71 win in 2008.
- The Tigers held the CAA's leading scorer T.J. Williams three points below his season average.
- Williams finished with 18 points to lead Northeastern.
- Also reaching double digits for the Huskies was Devon Begley (15 points) and Alex Murphy (13).
- Towson won the rebounding battle, 28-27.
- Towson turned 15 Northeastern turnovers into 19 points.
- Towson will visit Northeastern on Saturday, Jan. 28.
Up Next
Towson hits the road for its next two games beginning with its annual visit to Hofstra Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Hofstra beat Towson twice last year and leads the all-time series, 40-24. This begins Towson's second stretch of playing three out of four on the road this month.
