PHILADELPHIA – With smoldering, hot-coal eyes that resembled glints of steel and playing with mad fury as a swirling mass of menace and muscle, the Towson University men's basketball team rallied from an 18-point second-half deficit to defeat Drexel, 94-92, in overtime at the Daskalakis Athletic Center Thursday night in a wild and thrilling Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game.
 
Snorting like steam engines and snarling like pit bulls, Towson turned up the defensive heat in the final 11 minutes of regulation to force overtime.
 
From there, senior guard Mike Morsell handled the rest by scoring eight of his season-high 31 points in the extra session to help the Tigers overcome their largest deficit of the season. His shots were like snowflakes. One may have resembled another, but no two were exactly the same.
 
Playing in front of several family and friends, Zane Martin added 25 points and Eddie Keith II scored 19 for the Tigers, who also survived a rough beginning to the second half in which they made four of their first 16 shots.  
 
Towson's defense was fierce in overtime, limiting Drexel to 1-of-6 shooting. Tramaine Isabell scored a game-high 32 points to lead the Dragons. Seven of his markers came in overtime.
 
Once Towson survived Drexel's final shot attempt that would've forced another extra session, Morsell and Justin Gorham jumped high in the air in delightful delirium. As excited Towson players sprinted into the locker room pumping their fists, they were showered with thunderous applause from the many Towson fans.
 
Records
Towson           17-9 overall, 7-6 CAA
Drexel             11-13, 5-8
 
Quotable
Morsell on Towson's victory.
"We fought for this win. We found a way and dug down deep. This just shows how together we are and tough we are. This is a great win for us. We really needed this. (Towson head coach Pat) Skerry told me to play strong and do what I do. Everybody has confidence in me so that makes it easier for me to play."
 
On moving into the top 10 of Towson's all-time scoring list.
"It feels good to know that hard work that I've put into the game is paying off. All the workouts have made a difference. I am truly thankful to my coaches and teammates for believing in me. It's a blessing."
 
How It Happened

• The terrific triumvirate of Keith II, Morsell and Martin combined to score Towson's last 49 points over the final 20 minutes of the game.
• Morsell had 22 points after intermission. Martin had 18 after halftime. Keith II had 10 points.
• Keith II, who led Towson with eight rebounds, enjoyed lots of support from Justin Gorham and Dennis Tunstall, who finished with seven caroms.
• Jordan McNeil, Brian Starr, Alex Thomas, and Jeffrey Prophete made key contributions that went beyond the stat sheet to help the Tigers.
• Morsell gave the Tigers the lead for good, 92-89, with 98 seconds remaining in overtime with a corner 3-pointer.
• That basket came moments after he tied the game at 89 following a 3-pointer with 2:16 remaining.
• Towson, which never led in the second half, also erased a four-point overtime deficit.
• Morsell was also responsible for forcing overtime as he converted a spectacular old-fashioned 3-point play with 25 seconds remaining in regulation.
• He soared high into the air to tip home a missed shot and was fouled in the process. Morsell sank the ensuing foul shot after a timeout and Towson made a defensive stop.
• Trailing, 67-49, with 11:11 remaining, Towson needed everybody's best down the stretch.
• The Tigers were still down, 77-67, with 4:21 remaining, but the combination of Martin and Morsell was special to witness down the stretch.
• Morsell scored Towson's last eight points of regulation.
• Towson trailed, 39-37, at intermission.

 
Inside the Numbers

• This was Morsell's fourth career game with 30 or more points.
• Half of his career 30-point games have been against Drexel in overtime victories.
• After Towson fell behind by 18 points, Morsell was breathtakingly astonishing in making 9-of-11 shots from the field as the Tigers outscored Drexel, 45-25.
• With his 31-point performance, Morsell moved past George "Bucky" Kimmett (1,418 points) and Bobby Washington (1,437) and into ninth place on the Towson all-time scoring list.
• Morsell has 1,441 career points.
• This was the sixth time Towson has scored at least 90 points in a game this season.
• Towson improved to 3-1 in overtime games this season.
• The Tigers have rallied from a double-digit deficit to win six games this season.
• Martin has scored in double figures in 20 consecutive games.
• This was Martin's 15th game of 20 or more points.
• This was the 18th game this season in which Martin scored double-digit points in the second half.
• Keith II scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and 22nd time in his career.
• This was Towson's sixth straight victory over Drexel.
• This is Towson's longest winning streak over the Dragons since it won seven straight from Feb. 10, 1988 through Jan. 23, 1991.
• Over the final 16 minutes (which include overtime), Towson's defense held Drexel to 29.4 percent shooting (5-of-17) and forced six turnovers.
• Towson finished with 42 rebounds, the 98th time under Skerry it finished with at least 40 boards.

 
Up Next
Towson returns home to host Northeastern in its annual Autism Awareness Game Saturday afternoon beginning at 2 p.m.