NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – With Northeastern in its rear-view mirror, the focused and third-seeded Towson University men's basketball team now has its sights set on second-seeded College of Charleston. The Tigers and Cougars collide in a high-stakes Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) semifinal Sunday afternoon.
 
With the game being played in Charleston's backyard, the Tigers essentially know they'll be playing a road contest even though it's technically a neutral site. However, Towson is excited by the challenge of playing the College of Charleston, a program that's 35-10 all-time (.778) when playing games at the North Charleston Coliseum since 1993. .
 
After all, Towson has endured, overcame and thrived in the face of adversity this season.
 
Let's see, there was a difficult non-conference schedule, the inconvenient 0-4 start to conference play, the loss of senior John Davis to a season-ending injury, two incredible overtime triumphs, and the five double-digit deficits that the Tigers eventually overcame to win.  
 
Yet through it all, Towson is where it confidently always knew where it would be: Still with a chance to cut down the nets on Monday and secure a sacred trip to the NCAA tournament.
 
The Cougars may have the partisan crowd, but the Tigers will have each other.
 

When:	Sunday, March 5, 2017
Where	North Charleston Coliseum -- Charleston, S.C.
Time:	4:30 p.m.
Records:	Towson (20-12); College of Charleston (24-8)
Television:	Comcast Sportsnet (Al Koken, John Feinstein & Rob Carlin)
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300 AM
Series History:	Towson leads 6-5
Last Meeting:	Towson defeated College of Charleston, 83-77 on Jan. 26 at SECU Arena
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

Open Mic
Towson head coach Pat Skerry on his team and the challenge of playing Charleston
"First of all, I am proud of my group. We've been through a lot this season. There's a great spirit and fight to these guys. Whatever ends up happening, I know they are going to give everything they have and as a coach, you can put your head on the pillow knowing that's going to happen. It'll be like a road game for us. It'll be jumping in here. We've got to be ready to play. They have all kinds of talent and they guard you. We had two good games against them this year and I expect the same on Sunday."
 
Series Notes
This will be the 12th all-time meeting and third this season … Charleston has won three of its last four games against Towson … Towson has won 12 of its last 15 games … This is Towson's third CAA semifinal appearance (0-2) … This is the first CAA Tournament meeting against Charleston … This is Charleston's first-ever appearance in the CAA semifinals … Charleston has won five straight games.
 
Three's A Charm
The No. 3 seed has won the CAA tournament four times: 1998 (Richmond), 2008 (George Mason), 2013 (James Madison), and 2015 (Northeastern). Notice a San Francisco Giant-like pattern developing with the No. 3 seed winning the CAA tournament in odd years. The Giants won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Could Towson add to the CAA's recent pattern of success as a No. 3 seed?
 
Towson-Charleston Regular Season Recap
Towson and Charleston split their two meetings this season with each team winning at home. Charleston won 62-57 on Jan. 5 and Towson rallied for a dramatic, 83-77, overtime victory on Jan. 26. In two games against the Cougars this season, Arnaud William Adala Moto averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. Deshaun Morman chipped in 12.5 points and Brian Starr averaged 11.0 points. Joe Chealey has been a handful for Towson as he is averaging 23.5 points in two games against the Tigers this season.
 
How They Got Here
Towson: Zane Martin led four Towson players in double figures with 17 points in an 82-54 quarterfinal win over Northeastern. Brian Starr and Arnaud William Adala Moto scored 12 points each and Jordan McNeil added 10 points for the Tigers. Eddie Keith II and Dennis Tunstall led Towson with eight rebounds each.
 
College of Charleston: Joe Chealey scored four points in the final 40 seconds, including two free throws with just eight ticks left, and second-seeded College of Charleston outlasted seventh-seeded James Madison, 67-62, in the third quarterfinal. Cougar sophomore Jarrell Brantley recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards, and Chealey led his team with 21 points, which included an 11-of-13 effort from the free throw line.
 
A Look At Charleston
Led by CAA Coach of the Year Earl Grant, the Cougars are on a five-game win streak and enter the tournament with one of the most-talented teams in the league headlined by All-CAA First Team selection Joe Chealey (17.2 ppg) and All-CAA Second Team selection Jarrell Brantley (14.1 ppg). In the win over JMU, Chealey recorded his 12th game this season with 20-or-more points. He has scored in double figures in 14 consecutive games. Brantley registered his 10th double-double of the season and 15th of his career.
 
20 And Counting
This is the third time in the last four years, Towson has won at least 20 games. It's the fourth time since Towson has been a Division I program (first year was 1979-80) that it has won at least 20 games in a single season (1993-94, 2013-14, 2015-16 & 2016-17). The last three have been under Pat Skerry. With one more win, Towson will have 21 wins for the third time as a Division I program. This is the first time Towson has posted consecutive 20-win seasons as a Division I program. Towson had consecutive 20 win seasons during its time as a Division II program in 1976-77 (27-3) and 1977-78 (26-4).
 
Plenty In Reserve
Towson's bench outscored the starters, 44-36, in its 82-54 win over Northeastern. It was the sixth time this season, Towson's bench produced at least 40 points.
 
Skerry Success In Last Five Years
Everyone knows Towson went 1-31 in coach Pat Skerry's first year. Since then, Towson has been consistently excellent. The Tigers have won 95 games (including two postseason contests), participated in two postseason tournaments and have the most CAA wins of any school.  This is the third time in the last four years Towson has been seeded third or higher in the CAA Tournament. Prior to Skerry's arrival, the highest seed for Towson was seventh.
 
Towson's Last Five Games
Adala Moto has stepped up his scoring, averaging 16.0 points and 6.4 rebounds to lead Towson. Mike Morsell is contributing 14.6 points and 6.4 rebounds. Zane Martin is averaging 12.4 points over the Tigers' last five games. The Tigers have been shooting well and scoring at a 79.8 point per game clip during this stretch. Towson has shot 50 percent or better in three of its last five games. Justin Gorham, Keith and Tunstall are all averaging at least four rebounds.
 
Up Next
The winner advances to Monday's championship game against either William & Mary or UNCW at 7 p.m. The championship game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.