TOWSON, Md. – The battle between the top two teams in the Colonial Athletic Association standings proved to represent a couple of the best teams in an overtime thriller in SECU Arena, but the Towson University men's basketball team fell just short in an 81-77 defeat vs. UNCW.
 
In a back-and-forth battle most of the way, Towson (14-6, 5-2 CAA) led by as much as 12 early in the second half, looking to hold off UNCW (11-5, 5-0 CAA).  The Seahawks chipped away and took the lead with 2:16 left in regulation.  A Terry Nolan Jr. late free throw forced overtime, where a Juwan Gray three-point basket gave Towson a 72-70 lead.  But UNCW scored the next seven points, and despite a late Nicolas Timberlake three, the Seahawks held for the victory.
 
The defeat snaps Towson's five-game winning streak, with all victories in that run coming in conference play.  Towson remains tied for second place in the CAA after Saturday.
 
Key Stats:

• The game was near-even stats-wise in many areas.  Towson earned 44 points in the paint to UNCW's 38, with UNCW having a slight edge in rebounds 42-40.
• All eight Towson players who competed in the game earned points, including four players in double figures.  Cam Holden earned a team-high 18 points, adding seven rebounds and three assists.
• Each Nicolas Timberlake and Antonio Rizzuto scored 16 points while Charles Thompson notched his first double-double of the year on 12 points and 11 rebounds, going 5-for-8 from the floor.
• For UNCW, Shykeim Phillips led with 18 points, five rebounds and two steals.  Jaylen Sims finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, going 11-for-12 from the free throw line.

How It Happened:

• The game started as a back-and-forth affair as both teams had similar strategies for scoring on driving layups and play in the paint.  Early play scoring by Charles Thompson helped keep pace as UNCW took a three-point lead.  Nicolas Timberlake knocked down a three for a 9-9 tie game just over four minutes in.
• After a Seahawk three, Chase Paar and Antonio Rizzuto combined for a 5-0 run to get Towson ahead.  UNCW again tied the game, then the Tigers went on a 9-2 run, spearheaded by two Thompson scores, to push the Towson advantage to 23-16.
• UNCW continued its drives and got free throws to stay somewhat close.  The visitors pulled to within two, then Rizzuto knocked down a corner three to rebuild the lead to five.  Another trade of baskets, including a thunderous dunk from Cam Holden, gave Towson a 28-23 advantage with three minutes left in the period.
• The two teams kept trying to penetrate in the paint, with a final Timberlake driving layup helping Towson lead 32-30 at the break.
• Towson scored on its first two possessions of the second half on a Rizzuto three and Thompson dunk to get up by seven.  Jaylen Sims got a layup, then Timberlake got a layup and one for Towson to lead 42-34 with 16:30 left in regulation.
• As Towson continued to earn chances in the paint, a second effort from Holden on another layup built the lead to 12 at 47-35 with 15:15 to go in the second half.
• As the fast pace continued, Towson held a 10-point advantage with 12:36 to go.  Led by Jaylen Fornes, UNCW got back to within two on a 10-2 sprint in the next three minutes.
• Towson kept the lead, depending on its frontcourt to get shots.  Juwan Gray, Timberlake and Holden got scored to get the home team's lead back up to eight, seven minutes in regulation left.
• Following an exchange of baskets, UNCW made five driving layups in succession to take its first lead of the second half with 2:16 left.  The defenses held for two minutes, then Terry Nolan Jr. hit a free throw to tie the game and force overtime.
• Holden struck first on the overtime's opening possession, but UNCW got the next five points to lead by three.  Rizzuto knocked down a pair of free throws, then Gray hit a wing three to send Towson ahead 72-70.
• With 1:14 left in the overtime period, Mike Okauru hit a layup to tie the game.  UNCW's next possession, Jaylen Fornes hit a three to get UNCW ahead with 23 seconds remaining.  Towson could not bridge that gap in the final seconds and fell 81-77.

Inside the Numbers

• Towson suffers its first loss since Jan. 3 and snaps a seven-game winning streak at home.
• This is Towson's first overtime game of the year and first since falling 90-88 at Charleston in double overtime on Feb. 6, 2021.
• Charles Thompson earns his fourth double-double of his career and first since Feb. 14, 2021.  He is the second Tiger to notch a double-double this year, the other being Cam Holden.
• Cam Holden and Nicolas Timberlake have scored in double digits in 15 of 20 games this season.

Next Game:

• Towson heads to Newark for the first of two contests against rival Delaware on Monday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. 

- TowsonTigers.com –