BALTIMORE – The Towson University men's basketball team knocked down 16 three-point baskets, a new school record, in an 89-75 victory at Coppin State on Saturday afternoon.
 
Towson (7-4) led the entire second half against Coppin State (1-13), outrebounding the Eagles 45-23 in the game. 
 
The Tigers earned their highest score in a game this year against its Baltimore-based rival to win its fourth game in the last five contests.  Five different Towson players scored in double digits.
 
Key Stats:

• Towson scored 51 points in the second half, the most in a single period since the Tigers had 59 in the first half vs. Bryn Athyn on Nov. 8, 2019.  It is the most in a second half since Towson scored 53 in the final period at Elon on Dec. 28, 2018.
• The game combined for 29 three-point baskets: 16 for Towson and 13 for Coppin State.
• Jason Gibson had a career-night, tying the Towson single game record for threes in a game with eight, shooting 61.5% from downtown for a career-high 24 points, adding three assists.  He ties the record set by Gary Neal, who had eight three-point field goals vs. Georgia State on Feb. 10, 2007.
• Nicolas Timberlake came a board shy of his first career double-double, tallying up 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists.  Charles Thompson also was shy of a double-double off 12 points and nine boards.  Antonio Rizzuto and Terry Nolan Jr. each scored 12 points.
• For Coppin State, Kyle Cardaci hit seven attempts from three, finishing with 22 points and four rebounds.  Tyree Corbett concluded with 16 points, off 7-for-9 from the field, and eight rebounds.

How It Happened:

• Coppin State scored the first two baskets of the game, getting space in the paint for field goals.  Towson had some early looks on kick-outs, with Antonio Rizzuto scoring on his first two from behind the arc for an early 6-4 lead with 17:37 to play in the 1^st.
• Play was aggressive all around the arcs in the early minutes of the game.  Coppin State often had quick looks and went for such shots, with Kyle Cardaci hitting a pair of threes to give the home team a 12-9 advantage with just over 13 minutes to go in the 1^st.
• Towson started to counter Coppin's aggressive play with some three-point plays of its own, going ahead with a 12-0 run sparked by a Jason Gibson three, continued by layups by Nicolas Timberlake, Charles Thompson and Juwan Gray, then another Rizzuto three for a 24-15 lead.  The Towson defense held Coppin State without points for a span of 4:20.
• The Eagles kept at the three-point attempts, with the teams going back-and-forth with baskets.  Towson kept the lead despite Coppin getting to within a couple of possessions several times, with both teams continuing aggressive defense.  A thunderous Timberlake dunk put Towson up 10, but a Cardaci three near the buzzer made it 38-31 Tigers at the break.
• Out of the break, Towson looked for Thompson in the paint while Coppin continued to look for threes.  A couple for the home team was countered by three Thompson layups, but Coppin pulled to within four at 45-41 with 16:16 to play.
• Towson's perimeter baskets got the Tigers quickly back up by double digits, with field goals made in succession by Rizzuto and Timberlake getting the advantage back to 10.  Following a couple of exchanges, Gibson passed off to Terry Nolan Jr. for a three then hit a pair of his own in transition to give Towson a 17-point lead.  Another exchange of baskets, including another three from Gibson, put the score at 65-48 Towson with 11:03 to go in the 2^nd.
• The pace started to slow down with Towson maintained a strong lead, keeping Coppin from getting good looks from three-point range.  The sides traded baskets inside, with strong play from Thompson leading to points.  After the four-minute mark, Coppin State pushed in transition, pulling to within 11 at 79-68 with three minutes left at the final media break.
• The barrage of threes continued, with Towson countering Coppin's makes despite the home team getting to within 10 towards the final minute of play.  Towson held for good the rest of the way, adding another Gibson three to win 89-75.

Inside the Numbers

• The previous Towson record for three-pointers in a game was 14 vs. UMBC on Dec. 3, 2008.  Towson also set a team record for three-pointers attempted with 36, surpassing the 33 attempted at Lafayette on Dec. 6, 1999.
• Juwan Gray played in his 100^th career collegiate game today.
• Towson has had two games where five different players have scored in double figures: today and vs. Hampton on Nov. 16.
• Terry Nolan Jr. had scored in double figures 49 times in his college career while Antonio Rizzuto had double figure scoring for the 36^th time.
• Towson has won five straight against Coppin State, including the last three in Baltimore.  Towson has also won its last five games against programs based in either Baltimore City or Baltimore County.

Next Game:

• Towson is back at SECU Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. against reigning SoCon champion UNC Greensboro.  For ticket information, interested parties may contact the Towson Athletics ticket office by visiting www.towsontigers.com, calling 1-855-TU-TIGER or emailing dkogok@towson.edu.

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