HARRISONBURG, Va. – The Towson University men's basketball team began its game at JMU with a 37-9 run and never looked back, taking down the Dukes 95-59 for its sixth consecutive victory.
 
This sets up a chance for Towson (23-7, 14-3 CAA) to earn its first-ever Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular season title.  The Tigers can earn a share of the CAA regular season title and the 1-seed in the upcoming CAA Tournament with a win in the resumed game on Monday, Feb. 28^th at SECU Arena.  For more information on attending the game, interested parties may contact the Towson Athletics ticket office by visiting www.towsontigers.com, calling 1-855-TU-TIGER or emailing dkogok@towson.edu. 
 
The Tigers stand with a 14-3 CAA record, a half-game out from 15-3 UNCW.
 
Towson outscored JMU (15-14, 6-12 CAA) 37-9 in the opening 12:03 of the game leading to its best offensive output of the season.  13 different Tigers scored as Towson led by as much as 43 in the game.
 
In Towson's final game ever against JMU as CAA members, the Tigers earn their highest margin of victory (+36) ever against the Dukes.  Towson defeated JMU by 26 (73-47) on Jan. 19, 2013.  It also ties Towson's highest margin of victory in a game, along with the Tigers' 86-50 victory over Elon on Feb. 12, since Mar. 7, 1992 when then Towson State defeated Buffalo 122-58.
 
Key Stats:

• Towson dominated in nearly every facet of the game, including shooting 53.3% while holding JMU to 37% from the field.  Towson had a 44-25 rebounding edge and had 32 points from the bench to JMU's six.
• Nicolas Timberlake came just one point shy of his career-high in points scored, netting 25 points and going 7-for-10 from three.  Cam Holden earned his second double-double in a row, tallying 12 points and 13 rebounds.
• Antonio Rizzuto finished with 14 points, going 3-for-4 from the perimeter.  Chase Paar concluded with eight points and six rebounds.
• For JMU, Terrence Edwards led all players with 29 points, adding seven boards.  No other Duke scored in double figures.

How It Happened:

• Defense led to early stops on both sides as each team looked to establish a set offense.  Towson found Nicolas Timberlake open on the perimeter, leading to a trio of threes on as many attempts for the Massachusetts native.  When JMU tried to extend the defense, Towson went to the paint, completing a 10-0 run with free throws to lead 15-4 just over 5:30 in.
• The Towson defense continue to stifle the JMU offense, holding the Dukes without a field goal for a span of over nine minutes.  At 18-8, Antonio Rizzuto knocked down a trio of consecutive baskets, sandwiched by a couple of threes, then Timberlake was the recipient of a pass off a steal and slammed it home.  Towson's 10-0 run made the score 28-8 Tigers.
• Towson was not finished, for after a JMU free throw, the Tigers frontcourt took care of the ball when given space.  Cam Holden pulled down a board off a three-point miss and put it back and one, then stole the ball for a fast break slam, pushing Towson up 37-9 with 7:57 left in the 1^st.
• JMU broke the run by getting layups as Terrence Edwards broke through on drives to get the Dukes some points.  Towson kept pace and increased its lead to 29 off another Timberlake three at 44-15.  JMU outscored Towson 6-1 in the final three minutes of the half, but Towson earned a 45-21 lead at the break.
• Towson did not let up into the second half, scoring on its first three possessions, including a pair of threes from Jason Gibson.  JMU kept pace, scoring on its first five chances to get within 21 at 53-32 Tigers three minutes into the period.
• Towson's pressure up front paid dividends as Holden lead the Tigers on an 11-0 run, fueled by a Terry Nolan Jr. pass to Chase Paar for a thunderous dunk and finished with Timberlake's fifth three-point basket for a 64-32 Towson advantage with 12:44 to play.
• JMU got as close as 28, but from there, Towson never led by less than 30 again.  A 15-0 run started by threes from Rizzuto and Timberlake pressed the Tigers to a 79-36 lead.
• Towson began to use their reserves, who kept the lead strong. JMU pulled to within 34, then a thunderous dunk by Chris Biekeu brought the Tigers back up by 36 at 83-47.
• Towson got the lead back to 40 off a 6-0 run from Biekeu and Radhir Hicks.  Towson sent the rest of the bench in, including Brandon Held scoring his first-ever Towson basket from three.  Towson took the victory 95-59.

Inside the Numbers

• Towson has won 23 games against DI opponents in the regular season, improving its program record in a single season.
• 95 points is the most in a game for Towson since Nov. 8, 2019 in a 100-31 victory over Bryn Athyn.  95 is the most points in against a DI opponent since Jan. 25, 2017 in a 96-82 overtime win vs. William & Mary and the most in a regulation game vs. a DI opponent since Jan. 13, 2017 in a 99-73 victory over William & Mary.
• Towson earns the biggest margin of victory against JMU for any team since Mar. 26, 2009 when Old Dominion defeated JMU 81-43.
• Cam Holden now has 10 double-doubles on the year and double figure rebounding in 12 games.
• Nicolas Timberlake had scored 20+ points five times this season and six times total in his career.
• Terry Nolan Jr. notched six assists, the 11^th time this year he has earned at least five assists in a game. 

Next Game:

• Towson returns to SECU Arena on Monday, Feb. 28 to resume its suspended game with Delaware at 6 p.m.  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.