TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University men's basketball team begins a three-game homestand against Drexel in a nationally televised battle between the longtime rivals.
 
The pride of the Tigers shined brightly in their last game as their tried and true veterans engineered a much-needed 67-60 road victory over UNCW. Brian Fobbs, Allen Betrand and Jason Gibson made clutch shots down the stretch and the defense, anchored by Nakye Sanders and Dennis Tunstall, played with determination and fire.
 
The Tigers now begin a season-defining three-game homestand against Drexel, Delaware and James Madison. However, the immediate focus is a much improved Drexel squad that rolls into SECU Arena having won two straight games and four of its last five outings. You know the coaches mantra: One game at a time.
 
If you like rebounding, this game will be one for you. Drexel leads the CAA in offensive rebounding while Towson is second.

 

When:	Thursday, January 9, 2020
Where	SECU Arena -- Towson, Md.
Time:	6 p.m.
Records:	Towson (7-9, 1-3); Drexel (9-7, 2-1)
Television/Internet:	CBS Sports Network with Mike Gleason and Mack McCarthy
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300AM with Spiro Morekas
Series History:	Drexel 49-24
Streak/Last Meeting:	Towson W1/ Towson, 92-77, 2/16/19
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

 
Starting Five

• Towson has won 11 of the last 14 games against Drexel, including four straight at home.
• The Tigers and Dragons split last season with each team winning at home.
• Drexel features the CAA leader in rebounding (James Butler), assists (Camren Wynter), 3-point field goal percentage (Coltrane Washington), offensive rebounding (Butler) and blocked shots (Butler).
• Betrand and Wynter were named to the CAA honor roll this past week for their efforts last week.
• The Tigers have lost two straight home games. Drexel is 0-5 on the road.

 
Towson Update

• Betrand has scored in double figures in five straight games.
• He leads the Tigers in CAA scoring at 17 points per game.
• Betrand has scored double figure points in the second half of five straight games.
• During a 1-1 road trip for Towson, Betrand led the Tigers by averaging 17.5 points per game.
• The sophomore posted a career-high 19 points at Charleston before a 16-point effort in Towson's win at UNCW.
• In four CAA games this season, Betrand and Nakye Sanders have shot a combined 23-for-42 (54.7 percent) in the second half.
• Betrand is tied for fourth in the CAA in free-throw percentage (83.3), 14th in 3-point field goal percentage (40.6) and 15th in scoring (13.1).
• Sanders is third in the CAA in offensive rebounds (2.4), fifth in rebounding (6.9) and tied for 12th defensive rebounding (4.5) and blocked shots (0.6).
• Towson has grabbed at least 40 rebounds in three consecutive games. The Tigers have finished with at least 40 rebounds in seven games.
• Fobbs is tied for fourth in the CAA in free throw percentage (83.3) and ninth in scoring (15.1).
• Fobbs has scored in double figures 13 times this season.
• Tunstall is second in the CAA in offensive rebounds (2.5), tied for third in blocked shots (1.1) and 13th in rebounding (5.8).
• The Tigers lead the CAA in field-goal percentage defense (40.9) and are second in scoring defense (66.4).

 
A Look At Drexel

• James Butler did his usual thing on the glass, with 16 rebounds in Drexel's 61-55 victory over Delaware in its last outing.
• His seven offensive boards were as many as Delaware's entire team.
• Butler, who averages 12.3 points and 11.9 rebounds, has 10 double-doubles.
• Drexel's seven non-conference victories are its most since the 2013-14 season.
• The Dragons are 2-1 in the CAA for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
• Wynter, the 2019 CAA Rookie of the Year, leads the Dragons with a 14.1 point per game average and 5.6 assists per game.
• Wynter has scored 30 or more points twice: 30 against UNCW and 32 against Princeton.
• Three of Drexel's losses on the road have been by double digits.
• Zach Walton averages 12.2 points per contest for the Dragons.
• Drexel leads the CAA in assists (14.8 per game).

 
Sound Smart With Your Friends

• Fobbs scored 20 or more points in both games against the Dragons last season.
• Two of Sanders' five career double-doubles were against Drexel.
• Bulter averaged 7.0 and 6.5 rebounds last year in two games against Towson.
• Wynter dished eight assists in each game against the Tigers.
• Jakigh Dottin has at least six rebounds in two of Towson's four CAA contests.

 
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.

 
Up Next

• Towson hosts Delaware on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020 at 2 p.m.

 
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.