TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University men's basketball team opens its 2017-18 season with an immediate road test against Old Dominion. It will be the Tigers first trip to the Ted Constant Convocation Center since 2013 when the Tigers prevailed, 68-66.
 
Towson returns 10 players from last season's squad that won 20 games for the second straight season. It was the Tigers' third 20-win season in the last four years. Towson was picked second in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) preseason poll.

 

When:	Friday, November 10, 2017
Where	Ted Constant Convocation Center -- Norfolk, Va.
Time:	7 p.m.
Records:	Towson (0-0); Old Dominion (0-0)
Television:	None
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300 AM with Spiro Morakes
Series History:	ODU leads 28-2
Last Meeting:	ODU defeated Towson, 60-58, on Dec. 2, 2016 at SECU Arena
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

A Look At ODU
ODU returns three starters from last season's 19-win team that was upset in the Conference USA quarterfinals. Ahmad Caver (13.0 ppg) was named to the C-USA preseason team. The Monarchs were picked fourth in the C-USA preseason poll. Other starters returning for ODU are B.J. Stith (10.8 ppg.) and Brandan Stith (9.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg). ODU beat Christopher Newport, 101-46, in an exhibition this past Sunday.
 
Excellent Exhibition
Towson defeated Bucknell, 93-86, on Saturday, Oct. 28, in a disaster relief exhibition game at SECU Arena. Justin Gorham (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Mike Morsell (21 points) led the Tigers in the victory over the Patriot League preseason favorite. Eddie Keith II and Alex Thomas scored 12 points each for Towson while Jordan McNeil scored all eight of his points during a two-minute burst of the second half.
CAA Game of the Week
Towson will be featured three times as part of the Colonial Athletic Association's (CAA) contract with CBS Sports Digital during its 12-game CAA Game of the Week package, which can be seen for free on CollegeSportsLive.com. The Tigers' home games against Elon on Saturday, Jan. 27, and Delaware on Thursday, Feb. 15, along with their season finale at Hofstra on Saturday, Feb. 24 will be aired live.
 
Conquering Canada
Towson went 4-1 during its Canada trip from August 5-11. The Tigers defeated University of Quebec-Montreal, Carleton College, Laval and McGill. The only setback was to a Canadian select group squad. Towson's displayed its offensive balance during the trip as a different player led the team in scoring in each game. Overall, sophomore Zane Martin led the Tigers with a 16.3 point per game average. Also averaging double figures during the week for Towson was redshirt junior Jordan McNeil (13.3), sophomore Justin Gorham (11.5) and senior Brian Starr (11.0). Defensively, Towson held its five opponents to a combined 33.4 percent shooting while blocking an astonishing 31 shots. Junior Alex Thomas had 10 blocks and redshirt sophomore Dennis Tunstall had nine rejections. The sticky-fingered Tigers also averaged 10.2 steals per game.
 
SECU Success
Towson is 45-16 all-time at SECU Arena after finishing the regular season with a 12-3 home record. Over the last two years, the Tigers are 24-6. The Tigers have won eight straight home games.
 
Two Tigers Earn Preseason All-CAA Honors
Mike Morsell and Deshaun Morman earn the honors after being named to all-conference teams last year. Morsell was a third-team honoree last season. Meanwhile, Morman was a member of the all-defensive team. Morsell led Towson in scoring with a 13.4 point per game average last season. Morsell scored in double figures 20 times and had a pair of 32-point scoring games against Drexel and Elon. In addition to scoring his 1,000th career point last season, Morsell also scored two game-winning baskets at UMBC and at home against William & Mary. Morman led the Tigers with 49 steals, which was third in the CAA. Morman, who led Towson with 65 assists, averaged 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Morman scored a career-high 18 points twice last season in games against Stony Brook and Nevada.
 
Traveling Tigers
Towson will play in a pair of tournaments this season. The Tigers are one of eight teams that will compete in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Estero (Fl.). Towson will open against Florida Atlantic on Monday, Nov. 20. It will meet either Penn or Northern Illinois on Tuesday, Nov. 21. On Wednesday, Nov. 22, the Tigers could face UMKC, Georgia Southern, Missouri State, and Manhattan. A few weeks later, Towson will head to Belfast, Northern Ireland to meet La Salle on Friday, Dec. 1 in the Belfast Invitational. The Tigers will face either Holy Cross or Manhattan on Saturday, Dec. 2.
 
Up Next
Towson opens its home schedule with a contest against Frostburg State on Monday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. The Tigers were permitted to schedule this game as part of the NCAA's exempted Gulf Coast Showcase.