TOWSON, Md. – After an unexpected start to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) season, the Towson University men's basketball express is back on track just in time as the Tigers welcome the College of Charleston to SECU Arena for a critical CAA contest Thursday night.
 
Things are much different now for Towson, winners of four consecutive games. The 0-4 start to the conference season is a memory. The Tigers are playing some of their best basketball of the season following that tough start.
 
Towson has put on a show over its last four games, entertaining fans by buzzing on defense like cicadas, swooping into passing lanes and locking down opponents. Offensively, the Tigers have thrilled the masses with their unselfish play, crisp ball movement, thunderous dunks, and precision jump shooting that has helped light up the scoreboard.
 

When:	Thursday, January 26, 2017
Where	SECU Arena -- Towson, Md.
Time:	7 p.m.
Records:	Towson (12-9, 4-4); College of Charleston (16-5, 7-1)
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300 AM
Series History:	Tied 5-5 (CofC W3)
Last Meeting:	Charleston defeated Towson, 62-57 at TD Arena on Jan. 5.
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

Open Mic
Pat Skerry on Towson's four-game winning streak
"We're starting to play better and rebound the ball. Our ball movement has been good and we're getting into a routine. We're not all the way there yet. It's been different guys for us on different nights. They are all pulling for each other and they're happy for each other, which is what we need moving forward."
 
Inside the Winning Streak
During its four-game winning streak, Towson has received contributions from everybody except Doc The Tiger. Consider that nine different players have hit for double digits at some point during the winning streak. Towson has been led by somebody different in scoring in each game during the winning streak.
 
Brian Starr and John Davis connected for 18 points against Delaware. Arnaud William Adala Moto devoured Northeastern with 24 points, which earned him CAA Player of the Week honors. Zane Martin sparked Towson's triumph at Hofstra with a career-high 23 points and Mike Morsell broke out of a slump with 17 points in the win at Delaware.
 
Through it all, Davis has been a rock of stability during the winning streak reaching double figures in each game. Jordan McNeil had 13 points against Hofstra and Eddie Keith II has scored in double digits in two of Towson's last three games. Alex Thomas tallied a career best 13 points in the win over Delaware. Deshaun Morman averaged 12.5 points in Towson's two wins last week.
 
Justin Gorham hustled to six points and five rebounds in 16 minutes in Towson's first win of the streak against Delaware. The Tigers have held a double-digit advantage at some point in every game during their winning streak.
 
Starting Five (all related to the four-game winning streak)
16 point deficit erased to beat Hofstra on the road.
38.2 rebounds per game.
47.1 percent of its scoring from its bench brigade.
49.3 shooting percentage.
79.5 points per game.
 
Today's Game
Towson concludes its season series with the College of Charleston. The Tigers are looking to extend their winning streak to a season-high five games. Charleston has had the upper hand recently by winning three straight over Towson. The Tigers have averaged 47 points during that time. Towson begins a stretch in which it plays four of its next five games and six of its next eight at SECU Arena.
 
A Look At Charleston
The Cougars went 1-1 at home last week, falling 65-59 to UNCW before beating JMU, 73-60. They have won eight of their last nine games. Joe Chealey scored a team-high 17 points in both games last week and averaged 4.5 apg. He's tallied double figures in 10 of his last 11 games and ranks sixth in the CAA in scoring (15.5 ppg) and eighth in assists (3.2 apg). Grant Riller also had 17 points vs. JMU. He's reached double digits in five straight games and is averaging 16.8 ppg over that stretch. Jarrell Brantley averaged 13.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg last week. He's scored double digits in 18 games and has five double-doubles. He's third in the CAA in rebounding (8.2 rpg). Marquise Pointer scored a season-high 10 points in 16 minutes vs. JMU. CofC has held 18 of 21 foes under 70 points and leads the CAA and ranks fifth nationally in scoring defense (60.0 ppg). The Cougars are second in the nation in 3-point FG defense (27.3%).
 
Last Meeting Against Charleston
Towson dropped a tough 62-57 decision to the College of Charleston on Jan. 5 at TD Arena. The Tigers had an opportunity for the win as they had the ball with 19 seconds remaining and trailing, 58-57. The Tigers missed a jump shot and the Cougars made four straight free throws to earn the victory. Adala Moto led Towson with 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Keith II grabbed a career high 10 rebounds and finished with seven points. Starr finished with nine points and six rebounds. Trailing 56-49 with 2:47 remaining, Towson used an 8-2 run to put itself in position for a victory. Brantley had a double-double (19 points, 13 rebounds). Chealey scored a game-high 22 points.
 
Last Time Out For Towson
Towson University placed five players in double digits for the second consecutive game during its solid 75-58 victory over the University of Delaware in a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game at the Bob Carpenter Center Saturday afternoon. Morsell led a balanced Towson scoring attack with 17 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Thomas delivered a career best 13 points in 18 minutes. Davis added 12 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. Morman (11 points) and Keith II (10 points) also hit for double figures for Towson. The Tigers limited Delaware to 33.3 percent shooting.
 
SECU Success
Towson is 39-16 (70 percent) all-time at SECU Arena.
 
900 Ways To Score...Choose One
Towson has three players that have scored at least 800 points: Arnuad William Adala Moto (1,115), John Davis (1,035) and Mike Morsell (918).
 
Up Next
Towson travels to Northeastern to conclude the season series with the Huskies. Saturday's game from historic Mattews Arena begins at 7 p.m. That game will conclude Towson's second stretch of playing three out of four on the road this month.