TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University men's basketball team will continue its bus tour of the Mid-Atlantic when it competes next weekend in the "Boardwalk Battle" presented by Coca-Cola in Atlantic City.
 
The two-day tournament commences Friday, Dec. 21 when the Tigers battle Tulane at 5 p.m. The event concludes on Saturday, Dec. 22 when Towson meets either La Salle or Alabama A&M at noon or 2:30 p.m.
 
The Tigers will be playing in a historic venue. Towson enters the tournament off of the momentum of a thrilling 80-76 double overtime conquest of UMBC this past Tuesday. It was a game in which Brian Fobbs delivered a career best 32 points and Dennis Tunstall finished with a career-high 15 rebounds.
 
We'll have plenty more on the Tigers next week leading into the tournament.
 
Let's get you prepared for the tournament by offering a quick sneak peek of Towson's competition.
 
Tulane (3-6 overall): The Green Wave are members of the American Athletic Conference. This will be the first meeting in program history against Tulane. The Green Wave have defeated Coastal Carolina, South Dakota State and UT-Martin this season. Tulane hosts Texas Southern Monday night before heading to Atlantic City. Tulane has been paced by a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging at least nine points: Caleb Daniels (16.2 ppg.), Jordan Cornish (13.0), Samir Sehic (9.8, 6.7 rebounds per game) and Shakwon Barrett (9.7). Barrett and Cornish have combined for 64 assists. Tulane is 1-2 on neutral courts.
 
Alabama A&M (0-9): The Bulldogs are members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). This will be the first meeting in program history against Alabama A&M. If the Tigers meet the Bulldogs, it will be the first time in program history that Towson will play a game against a SWAC opponent. Jalen Reeder is Alabama A&M's top scorer at 12.8 points per game. Arthur Johnson (10.5 ppg.) and Andre Kennedy (10.2 ppg., 5.6 rebounds per game) also average double digits for the Bulldogs. Brandon Miller leads Alabama A&M with 37 assists. Like Towson, Alabama A&M has played three home games this season.
 
La Salle (0-10): The Tigers and Explorers aren't strangers to each other. Towson defeated La Salle 67-60 last year in the Belfast Classic. One of La Salle's setbacks is to Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA) foe Drexel. Pookie Powell is the Explorers' top scorer (18.3 ppg.). Jack Clark (12.0) and Isiah Deas (11.6) are also double digit scorers for La Salle, which averages 71.1 points per outing. Traci Carter dishes 4.2 assists per game. The Explorers are 0-3 on neutral courts. La Salle is led by first-year coach Ashley Howard.
 
About Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall: A premier entertainment spot for visitors and residents alike Historic Boardwalk Hall has played host to a sparkling list of dazzling entertainers and knockout sporting events throughout its 87 year history. Built in 1929 to host the city's growing convention industry, the historic Hall was touted an architectural marvel at that time. With its large 137 foot-high barrel vault ceiling, the Atlantic City Convention Hall as it was formerly known, laid claim to the world's largest clear span space during that period.
 
Boardwalk Hall takes pride in a number of firsts. In 1930, it hosted the nation's first indoor college football game; in 1940 the Hall became the home of the Miss America Pageant; from July 1942 until November 16, 1945 the Army Air Forces used Convention Hall as a headquarters and training facility during World War II; in 1964 the venue housed more than 20,000 visitors to the 1964 Democratic National Convention, the setting of Lyndon Johnson's nomination; the country's first indoor helicopter flight was made here in 1970, and Boardwalk Hall was listed on the United State Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
 
Mike Tyson fought in Boardwalk Hall several times as heavyweight champion including four of his seven defenses as undisputed champion. His most famous bout at the venue was the 91-second knockout of former champion and previously undefeated Michael Spinks on June 27, 1988. Beyonce also performed here in 2013.
 
Now, the Towson men's basketball team will add its name to the list of legendary performers in this sacred venue.