TOWSON, Md. – Juwan Gray and
Allen Betrand established career-high scoring totals by combining for 37 entertaining points to lead the Towson University men's basketball team to a 72-58 victory over George Washington in the season-opener for both teams Tuesday night at SECU Arena.
Overall four players scored in double figures for the Tigers, which defeated George Washington for the first time since 1981. Towson also snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Colonials. It was Towson's first season-opening victory since a 67-61 road victory over George Mason in 2016.
Playing his first game in 594 days, Gray finished with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, which included a 3-for-3 effort from 3-point distance. Betrand had 18 points and six rebounds in a career best 32 minutes. Towson also got 12 points from senior
Brian Fobbs and 11 points from freshman
Jason Gibson. In addition, this was the 125th victory for head coach
Pat Skerry at Towson.
George Washington was led by Jameer Nelson Jr.'s 15 points and five assists. The Colonials also got 14 points from Maceo Jack.
Quotable
Head coach Pat Skerry on enhancements to his program.
"Our administration has done a really good job with some training in the summer, how we eat, where we eat and stuff that's helped us develop chemistry and I think that really carries over to the court. It's not something you always see statistically, but it shows up in the win column."
Betrand on Towson's ball movement and his career best scoring performance.
"Our guards did a great job of moving the ball around tonight and people are starting to buy in and play as a team. Coach trusted me with the ball and told me to attack so that's what I did. I was anxious to play. I wanted to show off the hard work I had been doing this summer."
Gray on playing for the first time and team chemistry.
"I think it comes from maturity. Last year we had (10) new players. With this offseason and the fall, we all had a chance to play together a lot more and develop relationships. I feel like the relationships off the court is going to translate to good basketball on the court. All the work I put in last season and during the offseason is starting to pay off and it feels good."
How It Happened
- The Tigers ended the first half with a 13-2 burst to reverse a two-point deficit into a 32-23 lead at intermission.
- Betrand was the conductor of Towson's game-altering burst as he packaged eight of his points during the final 3 minutes, 31 seconds of the first half.
- Gibson's 3-pointer gave Towson the lead good, 24-21, with 2:54 remaining.
- Towson never trailed in the second half.
- Towson led by double digits for the final 16 minutes of the contest.
- The Tigers limited George Washington to 36 percent shooting in the second half (9-for-25).
- Towson assisted on 53.3 percent of its baskets in the second half.
- Dennis Tunstall was one of three Tigers with at least six rebounds.
- Tunstall finished with seven rebounds to raise his career total to 449.
- Fobbs complemented his scoring with five rebounds and five assists.
Inside The Numbers
- In two home openers under head coach Pat Skerry, Towson has finished with 72 points.
- Towson's first points of the 2019-20 season were scored by Fobbs at 7:06 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
- The Tigers won the battle of the benches, 30-10.
- Towson enjoyed a 36-16 advantage in the paint.
- The game featured seven ties and four lead changes.
- Seven of the eight gold-shirted Tigers hit the scoring column.
- Jakigh Dottin had four assists.
- There were no foul shots attempted in the first half. The teams made up for that in the second half, combing to shoot 26 free throws.
- Betrand's previous career high was an 11-point effort twice last season.
- Gray's previous career best effort was 18 points against San Francisco on Feb. 24, 2018.
- Gray connected on Towson's first three-pointer of the season with 11:23 remaining in the first half at 7:24 p.m. EDT.
- Towson held George Washington to 39.6 percent shooting.
Next Game
- Towson returns to action Friday when it hosts Bryn Athyn at SECU Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.
