"You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it's important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages." – Michelle Obama

TOWSON, Md. – Even though the Towson University men's basketball team may not have the record it wants as it rolls into Delaware to conclude a three-game Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) road trip, the Tigers are still diving on the floor for loose balls, competing with passion, playing with pride and an unshakable belief that better outcomes are ahead.
 

When:	Saturday, January 19, 2019
Where	Bob Carpenter Center -- Newark, Del.
Time:	7 p.m.
Records:	Towson (5-14, 1-5); Delaware (13-7, 5-2)
Television/Internet:	NBC Sports Washington
Radio:	CBS Radio 1300 AM with Spiro Morakes
Series History:	Delaware leads 44-36
Last Meeting:	Towson won 66-64 on Feb. 15, 2018
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

 
An injured and adversity-filled Towson team still has competed at a high level.
 
There's been encouraging performances, memorable moments and bursts of brilliance throughout the season for the Tigers, who have dropped six games this season by six or fewer points. In three of those setbacks, the Tigers saw double-digit advantages evaporate including Thursday at Drexel. The Tigers led by 11 points once in each half.
 
"It was a tough one because we had them on the ropes a couple of times, but we just didn't put them away," Towson head coach Pat Skerry said following the Drexel game. "They had a couple of big three-point plays. We just have to keep getting guys better. We haven't won a lot of these close games, but hopefully that's coming soon. The guys are battling, but we just have to find a way to win close games."
 
The schedule doesn't let up as the Tigers next three games, including Saturday's tilt against Delaware, are against the top three teams in the CAA standings. Delaware, Northeastern and Hofstra are also the only CAA with two or fewer league losses.
 
While injuries are part of the sport, it's still fair to mention that the Tigers have played their last two games with eight scholarship student-athletes. Injuries to freshman Nicolas Timberlake and redshirt freshman Quinton Drayton have kept them out of action since early December and senior Alex Thomas did not play in Towson's last two games.
 
It's been frustrating at times, but there's comfort knowing that the turbulence the Tigers are experiencing is temporary and only strengthening them for success in the future. Each moment of adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.
 
The character of the Tigers is shining through as they continue to play with confidence, resilience, determination and energy during this difficult stretch. The Tigers are finding solutions to jump hurdles and navigate around the roadblocks that would've stopped others completely.
 
Opening Tip

• Towson is 12-29 all-time in Newark.
• Towson has won four of the last six matchups in Newark.
• Towson has won six straight against Delaware and nine of the last 12.
• Six of the last 12 games have been decided by four points or less.
• Two of the last eight games have gone into overtime.
• Twenty-eight of the games between Delaware and Towson have been decided by four points or less.
• Towson won both games last season.
• Delaware is 3-0 at home in CAA games.
• The Blue Hens have won five of their last six games.
• Five of Towson's first seven CAA games have been on the road.
• Delaware and Towson played common non-conference opponent Cornell.
• Delaware and Towson each dropped a non-conference game to a MEAC opponent. Delaware lost to Delaware State and Towson fell to Morgan State.

 
Important Schedule Note

• The time of the James Madison at Towson game on Saturday, Feb. 9 at SECU Arena has been changed to 4 p.m. Make sure to mark your calendars.

 
Towson Update

• Nakye Sanders recorded his first career double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) Thursday at Drexel.
• Brian Fobbs reached double figures in scoring for the 15th straight game after scoring 21 points.
• Allen Betrand scored a career best 11 points. He has scored in double figures in two of the Tigers' last three games.
• Towson made eight 3-pointers, the second time in the last three games it has made at least that many.
• Towson has had three consecutive games with less than 10 turnovers.
• The Tigers had 44 rebounds against Drexel and lead the CAA in rebounding margin (+5.7).

 
A Look At Delaware

• Ryan Allen scored a career-high 29 points while Eric Carter added 26 points and nine rebounds as Delaware led wire to wire for a 76-69 victory over James Madison Thursday night at the Bob Carpenter Center.
• Delaware, which won its third straight home game, shot 56.0 percent from the field, knocked down 8 of 16 three-point attempts, and finished 12 of 14 from the foul line.
• UD has started 5-2 or better in CAA play for the third time since joining the league.
• Eric Carter has reached double figures in all but one game this year. He leads Delaware in scoring (17.7 ppg.) and rebounding (10.3).
• Ryan Allen averages 16.0 points per game.
• Also averaging double figures for Delaware are Ithiel Horton (13.5 ppg.) and Kevin Anderson (10.2).

 
Towson Basketball Offering Complimentary Tickets To Federal Government Employees

• The Towson University basketball teams will offer two complimentary tickets to federal government employees for games on January 24-27 at SECU Arena.
• Tickets will be available for the men's games versus Northeastern on Thursday, Jan. 24 and Hofstra on Saturday, Jan. 26 and women's games against Elon on Friday, Jan. 25 and William & Mary on Sunday, Jan. 27.
• Federal government employees must show their government ID at the Towson Ticket Office located at Gate A to get tickets.
• For further information, call 1-855-TU-TIGER.

 
 Perfection When It Comes to Graduation

• Towson has a perfect men's basketball graduation rate under head coach Pat Skerry.
• The Tigers are 21-for-21.

 
Towson In the Community

• Towson is the Division I national champion of the NCAA Team Works Helper Helper Competition for the Fall 2018 semester. Towson completed the most community service hours among all schools in the competition, including 75 different Division I departments and approximately 300 total programs across the country.
• The Towson men's basketball team has been active in the community since returning to campus in August. Members of the team spoke at Loch Raven Academy, participated in Towson West Elementary School's Back To School Night and the Autism Speaks Walk.
• In addition to the athletic and academic success, the Tigers ranked first nationally in Division I men's team sports for their community service activities in the 2017 NCAA Team Works Helper Helper Community Service Competition.

 
Coaches Powering Forward

• Autism Speaks Coaches Powering Forward will take place on the weekend of February 15-17, 2019.
• Tigers host Drexel on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.
• The Towson women will host the College of Charleston on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m.
• Last season, more than 375 NCAA coaches participated by wearing an Autism Speaks blue puzzle piece lapel pin to help increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism.
• In total, more than 4,400 pins were worn by coaching staff, officials, broadcasters, and school teams.
• Autism currently affects one in every 59 children in the U.S and for most, is a lifelong condition.

 
CAA Tournament Tickets on Sale

• All-session ticket books for the 2019 CAA Men's Basketball Championship go on sale Thursday, January 10 through TicketMaster (1-800-745-3000), TicketMaster.com and the North Charleston Coliseum Advance Ticket office.
• The CAA's premier event returns to the Lowcountry on March 9-12, 2019 as the North Charleston (S.C.) Coliseum hosts nine games over four days, with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
• Ticket books, which provide admission to all games of the tournament, can be purchased for as little as $80.

 
Up Next

• Towson returns home to begin a quick two-game homestand against Northeastern on Thursday, Jan. 24 and Hofstra on Saturday, Jan. 26.
• Thursday's game against Northeastern will start at 7 p.m.
• The Northeastern game will be featured on the CAA Broadcast Package, which will be televised by CBS Sports Digital on CollegeSportsLive.com.