TOWSON, Md. – There's an old axiom in any sport that if your defense travels, then you always give yourself an opportunity for success in the steamy cauldron of a hostile road environment.
 
Lately, the defensive tenacity of the Towson University men's basketball team has been at its snarling and savage best away from the friendly confines of SECU Arena, attacking opponents with merciless fury.
 
In winning its last three road games by a combined 30 points, Towson has transformed three festive facilities into tabernacles of gloom by limiting Elon, William & Mary and UNCW to 59.9 points per game and 36.6 percent shooting. Further proof of Towson's focus has been its ability in defending the 3-point line in which opponents are shooting 24.4 percent in the last three road games.
 
This is the first time since the 2015-16 season that the Tigers have won three straight CAA road games.
 
As Towson invades Delaware for a nationally-televised and critical showdown on CBS Sports Network, the Tigers will look to win their fifth straight contest inside of the cozy Bob Carpenter Center, a place that usually crackles with electricity whenever Towson visits.  
 
With five of their final seven CAA games on the road, Towson's defense will be crucial as it looks to tame Delaware, one of the best offenses in the conference. The Blue Hens lead the CAA in field goal percentage (48.2) and they are second in scoring offense (74.1), third in 3-point field goal percentage (35.8) and fourth in assists (13.1).
 
Meanwhile, Towson leads the CAA in scoring defense (66.4), field goal percentage defense (40.4) and rebounding margin (+4.1), all categories that bring a smile to veteran Towson head coach Pat Skerry, who will be mic'd up during the broadcast.
 
Sounds like another classic conflict.
 
The Tigers have won seven of their last eight games, including an 84-68 decision over Delaware on Jan. 11 at SECU Arena.
 
 

When:	Thursday, February 6, 2020
Where	Bob Carpenter Center -- Newark, Del.
Time:	7 p.m.
Records:	Towson (13-10, 7-4); Delaware (16-7, 6-3)
Television/Internet:	CBS Sports Network with Scott Graham and Donny Marshall
Radio:	CBS Sports Radio 1300AM with Spiro Morekas
Series History:	Delaware, 45-38
Streak/Last Meeting:	Towson W1/ Towson, 84-68 W, 1/11/20
Social Media Updates:	@Towson_MBB

 
Starting Five

• While the Tigers defense has been great in their last three road games, Towson's offense has been solid, shooting 47.3 percent.
• Brian Fobbs (17.3 ppg.), Allen Betrand (14.0) and Jason Gibson (13.0) are a combined 44-for-84 shooting in Towson's last three road games (52.3 percent).
• Towson has enjoyed a double digit advantage at some point in eight straight games and six consecutive home games.
• Delaware has won four straight games, the longest winning streak in the CAA.
• In the long and storied history of this classic series, 35 of the meetings have been decided by six points or less.

 
Towson Update

• The Tigers had their seven-game winning streak ended by Charleston, 79-70, in their last outing despite 18 points from Betrand, who has made at least two 3-pointers in a game 10 times this season.
• Gibson has scored in double figures in four of Towson's last six games.
• Towson has won five of its last seven games by double digits.
• During its seven-game winning streak that recently ended, Towson won three straight CAA games by double figures for the first time in program history.
• Towson's seven consecutive CAA regular season victories was a first in program history.
• Betrand is fourth in the CAA in free-throw percentage (85.3), ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (39.8) and 11th in scoring (13.8).
• Sanders is tied for fourth in the CAA in offensive rebounds (2.3) and seventh in rebounding (6.7).
• Fobbs is seventh in the CAA in free throw percentage (83.0) and eighth in scoring (16.0).
• Fobbs has 29 career games in which he's made at least two or more 3-pointers.
• Dennis Tunstall is third in the CAA in blocked shots (1.2), sixth in offensive rebounding (2.3) and 11th in rebounding (5.8).
• With 106 career blocked shots, Tunstall has 32 career multi-block games.
• In the first game against Delaware, a season best five Tigers scored in double figures.

 
A Look At Delaware

• During its 80-72 win over Drexel last Saturday, Delaware got a combined 67 points from its triumvirate of Nate Darling, Dylan Painter and Kevin Anderson.
• Painter recorded his third double-double of the season by making every single shot he took Saturday afternoon to finish with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
• Darling knocked down four three-pointers to finish with a game-high 27 points, his 11th 20-point performance and 20th double-digit performance of the season.
• Anderson, who scored 20 points against Drexel, is sixth in the CAA in assists per game (3.6).
• Darling is fourth in the CAA in scoring (20.0) and second in 3-pointers made per game (3.1).
• Justyn Mutts is fifth in the CAA in rebounding (8.6) and ninth in field goal percentage (53.0).
• Delaware shot 51.8 percent from the field, hit seven three-pointers, and finished 15 of 20 from the foul line in the win over Drexel.
• The Blue Hens are 7-2 at home this season.

 
Up Next

• Towson will visit Drexel on Saturday, Feb. 8 for a 2 p.m. start.