TOWSON, Md. – The timeless trinity of defense, rebounding and toughness is the hallmark of the Towson University men's basketball team under veteran head coach Pat Skerry.
 
That will never change and those pillars will be needed as the Tigers hit the road for a pair of tough Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) games against Elon on Thursday and William & Mary on Saturday. Playing on the road in this rugged conference, in which seven of the 10 schools currently sport winning records, is the hardwood version of a hard-knock life.
 
Towson (10-9 overall, 4-3 CAA) has won four consecutive games by combining timely shooting, suffocating defense and a variety of contributions from everybody. As the Tigers hit the road to face the Phoenix (5-15, 1-5) and first-place Tribe (14-6, 6-1), they'll be traveling with plenty of momentum after completing a perfect three-game homestand with impressive wins over Drexel, Delaware and James Madison.
 
Towson enjoyed a memorable time inside of SECU Arena.
 

• The Tigers won all three games by at least eight points, the first time since the 2013-14 season that Towson won three consecutive CAA games by that margin.
• Towson enjoyed a 20-point advantage at some point in all three games.
• Towson led Drexel and Delaware by 22 points at halftime, the first time since the 2008-09 season a team has led consecutive CAA games by 20 or more points at intermission.
• Defensively, Towson limited its opponents to 38.7 percent shooting and 67.3 points per game.

 
Brian Fobbs was named to the CAA weekly honor roll on Monday after his 21-point performance against James Madison keyed a 69-61 victory. Fobbs enters the week having made 10 consecutive free throws. He is sixth in the CAA in free-throw percentage (82.8) and eighth in scoring (15.9). Fobbs along with Allen Betrand and Nakye Sanders combined to score 41 of Towson's 47 points in the win over JMU.
 
However, a closer forensic analysis of Towson's success reveals significant contributions hidden from the casual fan by Juwan Gray, Nicolas Timberlake, Charles Thompson, Jakigh Dottin, Jason Gibson and Dennis Tunstall.
 
Dottin and Gibson combined for 17 assists during the Tigers' three-game homestand. Gray has blocked five shots in the last two games. Thompson and Tunstall provided inside muscle and tough defense in the post. Timberlake's shooting has yielded huge rewards.
 
Furthermore, the quartet of Nigel Haughton, Chris Caligarian, Greg Cross and Justin Patterson have helped Towson stay prepared and ready with their efforts in practice. It's been a team effort all the way through for the Tigers.
 
The best part about having a memory is being selective in which you choose to focus on. While the four-game winning streak is awesome and something to build on, Towson is focused on Elon and William & Mary especially since the Tigers were 1-3 against Elon and William & Mary last season.
 
The Tigers have lost three straight to William & Mary and three of the last four matchups against Elon, including an 86-66 setback in the last matchup between the teams in last year's regular season finale.
 
In that contest, Elon tied its program record for most 3-pointers against a Division I opponent with 18. The Phoenix, under first-year coach Mike Schrage, lead the CAA in 3-pointers per game (10.3). They made 12 in a 79-78 loss to Delaware on Saturday. Elon's Hunter McIntosh (44 3-pointers made), Zac Ervin (38), Hunter Woods (37) and leading scorer Marcus Sheffield II (34) have combined to make 74 percent of Elon's 205 made triples this season.
 
Three of Elon's five wins have been against non-Division I opponents. Elon's lone conference win was an 80-63 win over UNCW in its last home game on Saturday, Jan. 11. Elon is last in the CAA in scoring offense and field goal percentage.
 
Picked in the preseason poll to finish seventh, William & Mary won its first six CAA contests before being blasted on the road at Drexel, 84-57, on Saturday in its last outing. Like Elon, the Tribe has a first-year coach in Dane Fischer.  
 
William & Mary is 6-0 at home this season and have been led by senior Nathan Knight, one of the top players in the nation. He's third in the CAA in scoring (20.7) and rebounding (10.6). Knight, who has 15 double-doubles, has benefited from the presence of the seven-foot Andy Van Vliet, who is averaging 14.0 points and 9.1 rebounds. They have combined to record 43 of the Tribe's 70 blocked shots. Luke Loewe, who leads W&M with 25 3-pointers, also chips in 11.1 points per game.
 
The Tigers dropped a 67-65 decision to the Tribe in the last meeting between the two teams. Towson led 61-56 with five minutes remaining. In non-conference play this season, the Tigers and Tribe share a common opponent in Saint Joseph's. Towson beat the Hawks, 76-64 and the Tribe lost to Saint Joseph's on the road, 84-69.
 
It'll be another fun week of fresh challenges and more opportunities for the Tigers. These two contests conclude the first-half of the CAA schedule.

NOTES: Both games will be broadcast on FloHoops. Ten of the Tigers' remaining 12 CAA games will be streamed on FloHoops. A FloHoops subscription is $12.50 per month or $95.88 per year ($7.99 per month) and provides access to 130 CAA men's basketball games, as well as special features … Towson's next home game will be on Thursday, Jan. 30 against UNCW at 7 p.m. … The Tigers will honor the 1989-90 and 1990-91 NCAA Tournament squads during the game.