TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University men's basketball team opened a 19-point halftime lead and held off a serious College of Charleston second-half threat to claim a 73-62 victory in a surly and physical Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) contest featuring five technical fouls at SECU Arena Sunday afternoon.
 
The tone for Towson's 14th consecutive home triumph was set immediately.
 
Early in the first half, Zane Martin sprinted down the side of the floor, took a perfect pass from Mike Morsell, exploded down the lane and threw down angry dunk that shook SECU Arena to its core and left fans tingling with excitement.
 
It was an immediate message that Towson was in attack mode. This was an all-out assault. All of the Tiger weapons of mass destruction were on display during an excellent first half performance that ended with them shooting 50 percent.
 
Towson's relentless and ruthless siege came from so many angles that Charleston must have thought it was taking a geometry test. There were bank shots that kissed softly off the glass, sweet reverse layups, a flurry of mid-range jumpers, dynamite defense that squeezed the Cougar attack, and a deep 3-pointer for good measure.
 
Mike Morsell finished off Towson's satisfying victory with a two-handed dunk that warmed the souls of the fans who braved the cold weather to watch the second meeting in eight days between the two CAA preseason favorites.
 
Records
College of Charleston             11-5 overall, 2-2 CAA
Towson                                   12-5, 2-2
 
Quotable
Towson head coach Pat Skerry on the victory.
"I thought we played that Towson-type of defense today and it showed. The job that Al did on Brantley and Brian did on Joe Chealey was exceptional. When your point guard and your post play that well, it sets the stage for everything else. We were really good around the basket. It was a great team win. I am really proud of our kids because we beat a really quality team."
 
Towson senior guard Brian Starr on the difference from the first game to the second game.
"We were more competitive than usual today and came in with a chip on our shoulder. As a team, we wanted to compete and play as hard as possible. I don't think playing them this close doesn't matter to us one way or the other."
 
College of Charleston head coach Earl Grant on the game.
"We got off to a slow start and Towson played well. First half wasn't us and the team I really know because for some reason and I don't know why, we gave up some easy baskets we never give up. They got some transition runouts and in the second half they didn't many. Jarrell played a little out of position in the first half and we had foul trouble."
 
How It Happened

• Towson had at least five players reach double figures for the second straight game.
• Martin led the Tigers with 16 points.
• Brian Starr added 12 points and five rebounds.
• Justin Gorham and Mike Morsell (six rebounds) scored 11 points each.
• Eddie Keith II stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, four blocked shots, four rebounds, three steals and three assists.
• Alex Thomas grabbed a season best nine rebounds and added a pair of blocked shots.
• Eight Tigers reached the scoring column.
• The Tigers took control of the contest midway through the first half by scoring 11 consecutive points to open a 27-16 lead with 8:14 remaining.
• Starr capped the run with a 3-pointer from Steph Curry range.
• Leading 36-26 with 3:42 remaining, Towson scored the final nine points of the first half and held the Cougars scoreless.
• Keith II and McNeil combined for all of the Tigers' nine points during the closing burst.
• The Tigers knew the Cougars would make a run.
• Charleston used a 17-3 burst midway through the second half to slice a 21-point deficit to 56-49 following a Grant Riller basket with 7:36 remaining.
• Towson found a source of inspiration in Thomas, who scored off of a pass from Morsell moments later to expand Towson's lead to 58-49 and help the Tiger fans breathe easier.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Towson held the Cougars to seven baskets and 28-percent shooting in the first half and led 45-26 at intermission.
• Charleston senior Jarrell Brantley scored all 15 of his points after intermission.
• The Cougar tough triumvirate of Brantley, Riller and Joe Chealey were a combined 3-for-12 shooting in the opening half.
• In the first meeting they combined for 61 points.
• Sunday they combined for mostly 45 harmless points with Riller scoring a team-high 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
• Towson led for 37 minutes, 18 seconds.
• Keith II, who had a career best four blocked shots, has scored in double figures in every CAA game this season.
• This was the third game this season Towson had at least five players in double figures.
• Morsell has grabbed at least six rebounds in three straight games.
• Morsell raised his career point total to 1,292 points.
• This was the ninth time Towson has limited an opponent below 40 percent shooting.
• CofC made 37.9 percent of its shots (22-for-58).
• The Tigers have handed out at least 14 assists in six of their last seven games.
• Towson's 11-0 first half run was the ninth time this season it has had a run of 10 points or more.
• In both games against Charleston, the Tigers had 11-0 runs.
• Towson is 52-16 all-time at SECU Arena and 29-6 since the start of the 2015-16 season.
• The Tigers and Cougars split the season series for the second straight year.

 
Up Next
Towson finishes its home stand against Hofstra on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.
 
It will be Educator's Appreciation Night. Local educators, 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.