TOWSON, Md. – Drexel and Towson is one of the fiercest men's basketball rivalries in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). Records don't matter when these programs meet.
 
Six of the last 10 games between Drexel and Towson have been decided by four points or less, including Drexel's last visit to SECU Arena on Feb. 2, 2017. Towson survived a 104-103 double overtime classic.
 
The edge-of-your-seat thriller had everything: Great plays, a 32-point scoring explosion from Towson senior guard Mike Morsell, and 207 combined points. It was the highest scoring game between the two teams in series history.
 
Drexel rallied from an 11-point deficit in the final five minutes to force overtime. Kurk Lee, Jr. forced the first overtime by making a pair of free throws with eight seconds remaining in regulation. He also forced the second extra stanza by making a layup with seven seconds remaining in the first overtime. There were six lead changes and three ties in the tense first overtime.
 

When:	Thursday, January 18, 2018
Where	SECU Arena -- Towson, Md.
Time:	7 p.m.
Records:	Towson (13-6, 3-3 CAA); Drexel (7-12, 1-5)
Television:	None
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300 AM with Spiro Morakes
Series History:	Drexel leads, 48-21
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

 





Health Care Appreciation Night
The Tigers will also celebrate Health Care Appreciation Night. Local health care professionals will be recognized during the game. Local health care professionals, along with guests, can receive four (4) complimentary tickets, and additional tickets can be purchased at a discounted $5 price. To redeem, please call 1-855-TU-TIGER (1-855-888-4437) or email 4tigertix@towson.edu.
 
Series Notes
Towson has won eight of the last 10 meetings against Drexel, including four straight … This will be the 70th all-time meeting …The Towson-Drexel rivalry dates back to 1969 … The Dragons are Towson's third most commonly played opponent … Towson won both games against Drexel last season, 104-103 in double overtime at SECU Arena and 69-65 at the DAC in Philadelphia.
 
Last Meeting Against Drexel
Towson edged Drexel, 69-65, on Feb. 10, in Philadelphia last season. Alex Thomas finished with a career best 14 rebounds to go along with eight points and two steals in 21 minutes. Deshaun Morman, Mike Morsell and Zane Martin, playing in his first collegiate game in his hometown, scored nine points each. Towson was 11-for-11 from the foul line. The Tigers won the battle of the benches, 37-4. Kurk Lee led four Drexel players in double figures with 18 points and five assists. Sammy Mojica scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half for Drexel.
 
Last Time Out For Towson
The Tigers blitzed William & Mary with its best offensive performance of the season in a 99-73 road victory last Saturday in Williamsburg. Towson shot 64.4 percent and had six players reach double figures led by Morsell (23 points) and Zane Martin (20). After falling behind by 14 points 11 minutes into the game, Towson swooshed to the finish by outscoring William & Mary 80-40 over the final 29 minutes. The Tigers shot 64.4 percent, the best in the Pat Skerry era.  It was their second shooting performance of at least 60 percent or better this season. Consider before this year that Towson hadn't shot above 60 percent since 2007.
 
A Look At Drexel
One of the obvious storylines involves Drexel sophomore Kurk Lee Jr, the son of Towson Hall of Famer Kurk Lee. In two meetings last season against the Tigers, the younger Lee averaged 21.5 points and five assists. This season, Lee has reached double digits in scoring in eight of his last 11 games. He's 16th in the CAA in scoring, sixth in assists, and 10th in steals.
 
The Dragons are much better than their record. Their only CAA win was over Charleston in overtime. Tramaine Isabell, a Missouri transfer, scored a game-high 25 points against Hofstra in a 91-86 loss. In a loss at Delaware, Isabell recorded his third double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds). Sammy Mojica averaged 17.5 points last week, including a career best 22 points against Hofstra. Ailhan Demir is averaging 15.2 points per game in CAA play. Austin Williams is fourth in the CAA in field goal percentage, fifth in rebounds, and first in blocked shots. Five of the Dragons losses are by six points or less.
 
SECU Success
Towson is 52-18 all-time at SECU Arena. Over the last three years, the Tigers are 29-8. For the Tigers, this game begins a stretch of three out of four home games to close January.
 
Up Next
Towson hits the road to visit UNCW on Saturday, Jan. 20. The game from Trask Coliseum begins at 7 p.m.
 
Next Home Game
Towson hosts William & Mary on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. It will be First Responders Appreciation Night. Local first responders, along with guests, can receive four (4) complimentary tickets, and additional tickets can be purchased at a discounted $5 price. To redeem, please call 1-855-TU-TIGER (1-855-888-4437) or email 4tigertix@towson.edu.