TOWSON, Md. – Even though it's still December and Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play hasn't started yet, the Towson University men's basketball program has accomplished something that hasn't been done in 25 years – win 10 consecutive games.  
 
The Tigers (10-1) are tied for the third longest winning streak in Towson men's basketball history with 1991-92 team. There have been blowouts, close games, exciting finishes, overtimes, six-hour flights and more during the last month for the Tigers, who have won a pair of tournaments on two different continents and caught the eyes of the nation with their torrid start.
 
The 10-1 start is the best in Towson's Division I era. It's the second best behind the 25-1 start by the 1976-77 team. Currently, Towson and TCU are the only programs with double-digit winning streaks. With the Tigers off for exams, this is the perfect time to reflect on the winning streak.
 
It's time to learn more about the squad with the NCAA's second longest current Division I men's basketball winning streak. Let's go inside Towson's 10-game winning streak:
 

• The three teams Towson defeated in the Gulf Coast Showcase currently all have winning records. Florida Atlantic, Penn and Georgia Southern are a combined 19-9 overall. Florida Atlantic recently defeated Florida Gulf Coast. Penn won at Dayton and Monmouth. Georgia Southern beat Missouri State.

 

• Towson rallied from a pair of first half double-digit deficits to keep its streak going. The Tigers trailed Penn 19-9 and Manhattan 23-10.

 

• In consecutive games, Towson defeated Manhattan, 56-55, on a Mike Morsell jumper with 1.5 seconds remaining and beat Morgan State, 82-78 in overtime after losing a 17-point second half lead. Zane Martin forced OT when he tied the game with a 3-pointer with 8.1 seconds left. Dennis Tunstall and Martin blocked three shots in the final three seconds of regulation to get the game into overtime.

 

• Morsell's game-winner against Manhattan was the fourth of his career.

 

• Towson's average margin of victory has been 16 points.

 

• Seven different players have recorded multiple double-digit scoring games during the streak. Eight Tigers have had at least one double-digit outing. Nine Tigers have averaged double-digit minutes.

 

• Martin has scored 20 or more points five times during Towson's win streak. He is shooting 64-for-119 (53.8 percent) over the Tigers last 10 games. He set his career-high twice in a four game period, dropping 24 points against St. Mary's and 25 points against Morgan State.

 

• Towson tied a school record with 14 3-pointers against Morgan State. The Tigers also shot an insane 61.8 percent in their win at Loyola.

 

• Speaking of 3-pointers, Towson has had four players make double-digit 3-pointers during the winning streak: Martin (18), Mike Morsell (17), Brian Starr (13) and Jordan McNeil (12).

 

• Displaying its balance and showcasing their depth, Morsell was named MVP of the Gulf Coast Showcase and Starr earned a spot on the all-tournament team. In Belfast, Martin was named the MVP of the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic and Eddie Keith II was selected to the all-tournament team.

 

• Starr and Morman are a combined 61-for-74 (82.2 percent) from the foul line.

 

• Towson has hit for 70 or more points eight times.

 

• Against Loyola, Starr scored a career-high 21 points on 7-of-7 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 shooting from 3-point distance.

 

• Three of the wins were by four points or less.

 

• The committee of Alex Thomas, Tunstall and Keith II all have at least eight blocked shots during the streak.

 

• Only three teams have shot above 40 percent against Towson during this streak: Penn (48.3), St. Mary's (44.4) and Manhattan (42.6).

 

• Although La Salle, Manhattan and UMBC hit a significant number of 3-pointers against Towson, those three squads were a combined 10-for-31 after intermission. La Salle was 2-for-12 and Manhattan was 3-for-9. After opening the second half making three of its four triples, UMBC finished the game 2-for-12 from deep.

 

• Justin Gorham has grabbed a career best nine rebounds three times, including against Georgia Southern.

 

• If you include Canada and the Disaster Relief exhibition against Bucknell, Towson has won 15 of 17 games it's played since August. Included in those wins was one against seven-time defending Canadian champion Carleton, a squad that beat Alabama, Vanderbilt twice, and Providence after falling to Towson.

 

• The Tigers are shooting 40.3 from 3-point distance while holding opponents to 27.3 percent. Towson has a team offensive rating of 113.2 during its winning streak. In addition, the Tigers have permitted 62.2 points per game.

 
The Tigers are taking exams this week, which seems appropriate. Once Towson returns to the court on Wednesday, Dec. 20 for the start of an interesting four-game road trip against Oakland in a Vegas 16 reunion, the tests become sterner.