CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Towson University men's basketball team engaged in a back-and-forth battle in front of a sellout crowd in South Carolina, with the Tigers winning in the final minute 80-77 over Charleston for their fourth straight victory.
 
Towson (21-7, 12-3 CAA) recovered from an 11-point deficit early in the second half at Charleston (14-11, 6-7 CAA) as the teams played a high-tempo affair.  With the game tied in the final minute, Antonio Rizzuto knocked down a layup and one to give Towson the lead.  Late free throws for Nicolas Timberlake sealed the game late as Towson pulled away for the win.
 
Towson earns its 21^st victory of the year, the most wins in a season since the 2013-14 campaign, when Towson was 25-11.
 
Key Stats:

• In a very physical game, Towson outrebounded Charleston 40-37 and won the battle in the paint with 30 points to CofC's 22.
• Four Tigers finished in double figuring scoring, led by Nicolas Timberlake with 19 points.  Charles Thompson finished up 17 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocks while Terry Nolan Jr. had 14 points and three steals.  Cam Holden was a factor all over the floor, tallying up 10 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals.
• For Charleston, Dimitrius Underwood got a double-double off 21 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three steals.  Three other Cougars got double digit scoring.

How It Happened:

• Towson got off to a fast start in the game, countering Charleston's fast play.  Cam Holden got the offense going with a putback and one.  Following a Charleston basket, Charles Thompson, Nicolas Timberlake and Jason Gibson hit shots in succession for an 8-0 run and an 11-2 Towson lead in the opening 3:30.
• Charleston kept up the fast play, which led to a 7-0 run capped by a Reyne Smith three with a hand in his face.  Thompson ended the sprint with a thunderous dunk in transition to make it 13-10 Towson, 12:25 left in the 1^st.
• At 17-14, Terry Nolan Jr. hit a layup driving baseline, then Timberlake knocked down a three in transition to build Towson's advantage back to eight at 22-14, 10 minutes to go in the 1^st.
• Continuing to attack the paint, Charleston got back to within one at 24-23 primarily on free throws.  Nolan kept Towson ahead with a wing three to make it 27-23 Tigers with just below seven left in the 1^st.  Charleston started to get looks in the corner, leading to a pair of consecutive threes and a 29-27 home team lead.
• The teams went back and forth, with a dunk in traffic by Holden getting the Tigers within two.  The Cougars scored the final five points of the second half, with just a combined one field goal between both teams in that span, as Charleston led 41-34 at half.
• Into the second half, Nolan got Towson off on the right foot with a corner three to bring the Tigers within four.  Charleston countered with a pair of threes of its own, leading Towson to call a timeout down 10 at 47-37 minutes into the second period.
• The defense started to slow down the Charleston attack, chipping away at the deficit.  Down 52-43, Timberlake buried a wide open three on a fast break.  Holden caught the point guard at half-court for the steal and dunk, getting the score to 52-48 Charleston with 13:49 left to play.
• The Cougars got back in rhythm on threes, getting a 9-2 run on a trio of shots from beyond the arc to get back up by 11.  Towson's defense ratcheted the pressure and three consecutive dunks on steals, adding a Timberlake jumper to pull within a possession at 61-58, 10:52 to go.
• The high-octane action continued as neither side wasted much time on the shot clock.  Back and forth the teams ran, with the Cougars getting back up two possessions and Towson crashing the boards to get back closer.  Charleston got back up seven after some Nick Farrar free throws to lead by seven with 7:36 left.
• Towson started to get looks underneath and drew contact in several possessions, chipping away from free throws.  With 3:22 to go, Thompson hit the layup while fouled to tie the game.  He hit the resulting free throw, then another backend free throw later, to push Towson ahead 74-72 with 2:37 left.
• Charleston tied the game on a jump shot in the next possession.  Towson went back ahead on a Holden free throw, countered by a Charleston free throw.  The game entered the final minute tied at 75-75.
• Antonio Rizzuto drove towards the basket towards the baseline, drew contact and hit the layup and one for a three-point Towson lead.  Charleston knocked down two free throws as Towson had the next possession.  A heldball towards the end of the shot clock gave Towson back possession.  Timberlake got fouled at hit a free throw, then Charleston got the ball and drew up a play, missing a three in the corner.  A final Timberlake free throw and a missed Charleston heave sent Towson to an 80-77 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• This is Towson's fourth win of the year when the Tigers were trailing at the half.
• Towson is 10-4 in true road games this season.
• Nicolas Timberlake notched double figures for the 21^st time this season while Cam Holden earns his 20^th time. 

Next Game:

• Towson returns to SECU Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. vs. James Madison for Senior Day.  For more 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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