TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University men's basketball team begins a two-game homestand by hosting William & Mary. This will be the second meeting in 12 days against the Tribe, who are perfect in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) road games.
 
This game represents the halfway point of the grueling CAA schedule. Towson is 4-4 in the conference along with Elon and Delaware. All three squads are two games behind William & Mary and Northeastern, who lead the CAA with 6-2 marks. With 5-3 CAA records, the College of Charleston and Hofstra are also ahead of the Tigers.
 
Ranked 12th out of the 32 Division I conferences, the CAA is one of three leagues nationally to have seven teams separated by two games.
 

When:	Thursday, January 25, 2018
Where	SECU Arena -- Towson, Md.
Time:	7 p.m.
Records:	Towson (14-7, 4-4 CAA); William & Mary (13-6, 6-2)
Television:	None
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300 AM with Spiro Morakes
Series History:	William & Mary leads, 18-17
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

 




First Responders Appreciation Night
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. Following the game, the third annual Baltimore County Police vs. Fire game will commence.
 
Series Notes
This will be the 36th all-time meeting … The first game between the two programs was played during the 1948-49 season … Towson has won four of the last five games in the series … Towson is 10-6 all-time against W&M at SECU Arena … Towson has scored 80 or more points in three of the last four games against W&M … In the last three games against W&M, Towson has trailed by double digits at some point … TU erased a 17-point deficit to beat W&M at SECU Arena last season.
 
Opposites Attract
William & Mary leads the nation in 3-point field goal percentage (44.5) and free-throw percentage (80.9). The Tribe is eighth nationally in field goal percentage (50.8), 12th in 3-pointers made per game (11.0) and 17th in scoring (85.2). Meanwhile, Towson leads the CAA in field goal percentage defense (40.4), 3-point field goal percentage defense (31.3), blocked shots (4.7) and rebounding margin (+5.6). The Tigers also second in the CAA in scoring defense (67.1). Sneakily, Towson is shooting 49 percent in its eight conference contests and it is second in 3-point field goal percentage (38.2).
 
Nationally Speaking
Towson is ranked among the top 50 in six categories: 28th in 3-point field goal percentage defense, 33rd in field goal percentage defense, 36th in total blocks (99), 38th in total rebounds (804), 41st in rebounding margin and 43rd in blocked shots per game.
 
Last Time Out For Towson
Towson dropped a 73-71 overtime decision to UNCW in a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) contest at Trask Coliseum Saturday night. Four Tigers reached double figures led by Zane Martin's 21 points. Deshaun Morman added 13 for Towson, which had its modest two-game winning streak ended. Also reaching double figures for the Tigers was Justin Gorham and Mike Morsell. They finished with 10 points each. UNCW scored six of the last seven points of the game to erase a 70-67 deficit in the final 1 minute, 42 seconds of overtime.
 
A Look At William & Mary
Trailing by eight points with 6:46 remaining, William & Mary once again made the big plays down the stretch to win its fourth-straight CAA road game, 80-73, at Elon on Saturday night. The Tribe scored 19 of the game's final 23 points, hitting five of its final eight shots, including four 3-pointers. William & Mary made 16 3-pointers against Elon. Senior Connor Burchfield led four Tribe players in double figures with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. He added a career and game-high eight rebounds. Classmate David Cohn tallied 16 points on 5-of-7 from 3-point range to go along with six assists. Sophomores Nathan Knight and Matt Milon finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively. The Tribe are ninth in scoring defense in the CAA (80.4) and last in field goal percentage defense (48.5).
 
Last Meeting Against William & Mary
In its 99-73 victory at W&M on Jan. 13, Towson had six players reach double figures led by its opponent-wilting duo of senior Mike Morsell (23 points) and sophomore Zane Martin (20). Also joining the double-digit party for the Tigers were senior Eddie Keith II (15 points, five rebounds), senior Brian Starr (13), senior Deshaun Morman (11) and sophomore Justin Gorham (10). Towson shot a season best 64.4 percent (38-for-59). The Tigers led by double digits for the final 15 minutes, 55 seconds. Nathan Knight scored 22 points to lead W&M and David Cohn made six 3-pointers to finish with 20 points. Justin Pierre added 16 points for W&M.
 
CAA Offenses On Fire
Offenses have taken center stage in conference play. Through the first 40 league games, the winning team has scored at least 80 points in 26 of them, including all five last Thursday. Eight squads are averaging 75.0 points per game or more in CAA action. Shooting percentages have been impressive as well. Eight teams are shooting better than 45% from the floor, six are hitting at least 36.5% from 3-point range, and five squads are shooting better than 76% from the free throw line in conference play.
 
That's Odd
In five of the Tigers eight CAA games, a team has finished with 73 points. The Tigers are 1-1 when scoring 73 points beating Charleston and losing to Hofstra. They are 1-2 when allowing 73 points falling to Charleston and UNCW and beating William & Mary. Charleston and Towson defeated each other by exact 73-62 scores. Crazy.
 
SECU Success
Towson is 53-18 all-time at SECU Arena. Over the last three years, the Tigers are 30-8. Towson is 7-1 at SECU this season. Five of its seven wins have been by double digits. TU is averaging 76.7 points at home this season.
 
Up Next
Towson hosts Elon Saturday at 2 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast live on SportsLive. The CAA is teaming with CBS Sports Digital for a 12-game "CAA Game of the Week" broadcast package. It's online only and links will be available beginning Friday. This is the first of three appearances for Towson. Jeff McCarragher will provide play-by-play of the games and former coach Mack McCarthy will be the analyst.
 
Towson will also celebrate Military Appreciation Day. Local military personnel, 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.