TOWSON, Md. – After taking advantage of the comforts of home, the Towson University men's basketball team hits the road for a pair of fun Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) challenges beginning with a trip to Elon.
 
Winners of four straight games, the Tigers – in addition to their luggage and uniforms – will pack their defense for this trip south. Towson leads the CAA in scoring defense (66.5 points per game) and field-goal percentage defense (40.5). The Tigers are also third in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage defense (31.7).

During its four-game winning streak, the Tigers have used a cluster of scoring options that have left defenses frustrated and flummoxed as six different players have hit for double digits at some point. However, aside from the glitz of scoring, every Tiger who has played has displayed grit in making key plays especially on defense.

 

When:	Thursday, January 23, 2020
Where	Schar Center -- Elon, N.C.
Time:	7 p.m.
Records:	Towson (10-9, 4-3); Elon (5-15, 1-6)
Television/Internet:	FloSports
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300AM with Spiro Morekas
Series History:	Towson 6-5
Streak/Last Meeting:	Elon W1/ Elon, 86-66 W, 3/2/19
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

 
Starting Five

• Towson is 1-0 all-time at the Schar Center, winning 77-60 in the first CAA contest in the venue's history on Dec. 28, 2018.
• The Tigers have won three consecutive contests in the state of North Carolina.
• Towson has held three of its last four opponents below 70 points.
• Elon has won three of the last matchups in this series, including two straight at SECU Arena.
• The Tigers have enjoyed a scoring run of nine or more consecutive points in every game during their winning streak.

 
Towson Update

• Over Towson's last five games, the Tigers have been led by the triumvirate of Brian Fobbs (18.4 points per game), Allen Betrand (17.8) and Nakye Sanders (11.8, 8.0 rebounds per game).
• Fobbs has scored at least 20 or more points in two of Towson's last three games.
• Betrand has scored in double figures in eight straight contests.
• Fobbs is ranked eighth in the CAA in scoring (15.9) and Betrand is tied for 11th (14.0).
• Betrand is third (86.3) and Fobbs is sixth (82.8) in the CAA in free throw percentage.
• Sanders scored 15 points in Towson's 69-61 win over James Madison on Saturday.
• Sanders leads Towson in rebounding with 6.8 per game, which is seventh in the CAA.
• Towson has enjoyed a lead of 20 or more points in three straight games.
• Juwan Gray has five blocked shots in Towson's last two games combined.
• Jakigh Dottin and Jason Gibson combined for 17 assists during Towson's three-game homestand.
• Dottin is 13th in the CAA in assists per game (2.4).
• Dennis Tunstall is fifth (1.0) and Gray is 11th (0.7) in the CAA in blocked shots per game.

 
A Look At Elon

• 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.
• In the loss to Delaware, the Phoenix was led by freshman forward Hunter Woods, who dropped 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
• Sophomore guard Andy Pack chipped in a season-high 16 points and four rebounds, while freshman guard Hunter McIntosh added 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
• McIntosh (44 3-pointers made), Zac Ervin (38), Woods (37) and leading scorer Marcus Sheffield II (34) have combined to make 74 percent of Elon's 205 triples this season.
• Elon won its last home game on Jan. 11 against UNCW.
• Three of Elon's five victories have been against non-Division I opponents.
• Already this season, the trio of Ervin, Woods and McIntosh have earned CAA Rookie of the Week Awards.
• A Stanford transfer, Sheffield is seventh in the CAA in scoring (16.3).
• Woods is ninth in the CAA in rebounding (6.4) and Simon Wright is 13th (5.7).

 
Sound Smart With Your Friends

• Elon has scored at least 70 points in four of its seven CAA contests.
• Betrand has scored in double digits in the second half of games nine times this season.
• Sanders has finished with at least six rebounds in a game 14 times this season.
• The Tigers have won three CAA games by at least eight points for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
• During its four game winning streak, Towson has allowed an average of 21.5 points in the first half.

 
Up Next

• Towson finishes the first half of the CAA season on the road at first-place William & Mary on Saturday at 4 p.m.

 
Next Home Game

• The Tigers host UNCW on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.
• The Tigers will honor the 1989-90 and 1990-91 NCAA Tournament squads during the game.

 
Autism Awareness/Coaches Powering Forward Weekend
Towson will host the College of Charleston at SECU Arena on Saturday, Feb. 1.
That game will the Tigers' annual Autism Awareness contest and Coaches Powering Forward weekend.
 
Tigers in the Community
The Towson University athletics department deems community service as one of its highest priorities to give back to the Greater Baltimore area. For the seventh consecutive year, the department exceeded 10,000 hours of community service to the Greater Baltimore region, finishing with 11,162 hours of community service in the 2018-19 academic season. Towson ranked No. 1 nationally for community service and won the 2018 National Championship for Community Service through the Helper Helper NCAA Team Works Competition. Towson had a 97% participation rate, attended 118 community service opportunities and volunteered with 19 organizations. Towson won the 2018 Volunteer of the Year Award from Susan G. Komen of Maryland.
 
NOTES: The game 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.