TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University men's basketball team earned the highest margin of victory in a game between two Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) opponents this season with a decisive 86-50 victory against Elon on Saturday afternoon.
 
Towson (19-7, 10-3 CAA) had a 26-0 run in the game and held Elon (8-18, 5-8 CAA) to 16 points in the first half en route to the victory.  The Tigers led by as much as 46 midway through the second half and held Elon for a span of 10:56 in the game.
 
The Tigers earn their highest margin of victory over a Division I opponent since Mar. 7, 1992, when then Towson State defeated Buffalo 122-58.  Towson also earns its top scoring defense performance of 50 points allowed since Feb. 15, 2020, when the Tigers defeated James Madison 63-48.
 
Towson played its annual Autism Awareness Game, wearing special blue jerseys on the court.
 
Key Stats:

• Towson played all 17 active student-athletes today, with 13 scoring in the game, a new season record.  Combined, they shot 58.2% from the field, including 68% in the first half.
• On the defensive end, Towson held the Phoenix to 39.2% shooting, including 24% in the opening half.  No Elon players earned double digit scoring.
• Charles Thompson led all players with 20 points off 9-for-11 shooting, adding four blocks.  Antonio Rizzuto and Terry Nolan Jr. each scored 10 points.
• All four Towson walk-ons competed in the contest, including Olugbemi Joseph scoring five points and grabbing two boards.
• For Elon, Hunter McIntosh and Zac Ervin tied for the top scorer with nine points each.

 
How It Happened:

• Each side scored points on their first two possessions. Antonio Rizzuto's make on Towson's second possession started up a 10-0 spring, with four different Tigers scoring in the run, to send the home team up 12-4 in the first five minutes of play.
• After Elon broke the run with a Hunter McIntosh three, the teams went on a series of exchanges for the next couple of minutes.  Towson primarily went to the paint while Elon mixed it up between drives and outside shots.  With 9:53 left in the 1^st, Andrew Junkin hit a layup to make the score 20-14 Towson.
• Following an exchange, Towson proceeded to go an a dominant run, not allowing Elon to score the rest of the half.  Charles Thompson got everything started with four consecutive baskets, including two off turnovers, to begin the sprint.  Towson's guards continued the attack as Rizzuto and Terry Nolan Jr. continued the attack with baskets as the Towson defense held down the Phoenix the other way.
• More points from Thompson plus free throws from Jason Gibson and Juwan Gray continued the run as Towson ended the half with the last 19 points of the period.  Towson led 42-16 at the break.
• Towson didn't let off the gas into the second half, scoring the first seven points in the opening two minutes of the period, including a Gibson three, to lead 49-16 and completing the run at 26-0.
• Elon broke its drought of 10:56 with a Hunter Woods layup.  Towson kept up the pressure and had another 7-0 run, capped by a layup and one by Nicolas Timberlake, to push the advantage to 40.  After a few more exchanges, six more consecutive points, including a turnaround jumper for Rahdir Hicks, gave Towson its largest lead at 69-23 with just under 10 minutes to play.
• Towson starting to use some of its reserves in the game with its lead.  Tyler Coleman and Chris Beikeu earned points to keep Towson's advantage strong.  In the final minutes, Justin Patterson and Olugbemi Joseph hit late baskets as the Tigers took the game 86-50.

Inside the Numbers

• This is the highest margin of victory for Towson since the Tigers defeated Bryn Athyn 100-31 on Nov. 8, 2019.
• 13 players scoring in a game is the most this season.  Towson previously had 12 players earn points vs. Hampton on Nov. 16.
• Towson 46-point lead is the largest in a game this season, surpassing the 32-point advantage the Tigers had against Penn on Nov. 23.
• Towson did not allow any fast break points in the game, netting 15 of their own.
• In his last six games, Charles Thompson is shooting 76.2% (48-for-63) with 106 points (17.7 ppg) and 47 rebounds (7.8 rpg).

Next Game:

• Towson is set for a battle for the ages in North Carolina on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.  The Tigers will take on UNCW on the CBS Sports Network.

- TowsonTigers.com –