WASHINGTON – The 1-seed Towson University men's basketball team reached the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) semifinal round for the first time since 2017 but fell to 5-seed Delaware 69-56 on Monday night.
 
Towson (25-8) recovered from an early first half deficit against the CAA preseason favorite Delaware (21-12) and got to within a possession several times in the second half but could not bridge the final gap and fell to the Blue Hens.
 
Despite the defeat, Towson will be headed to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) for the postseason for the first time in school history.
 
Key Stats:

• Towson and Delaware had a 37-37 rebounding split, with Towson having 28 points in the paint to Delaware's 26.
• Four Tigers scored in double figures in the game, led by Charles Thompson with 13 points and six rebounds.  Cam Holden concluded with 11 points and seven rebounds, including going 7-for-8 from the line.
• For Delaware, Kevin Anderson was 4-for-6 from three, getting 17 points and four assists.  Andrew Carr was the rebounds leader with 11, adding six points.

How It Happened:

• Both teams used the shot clock in the early possessions, with Delaware connecting on its first three-pointer in the first minute.  Nicolas Timberlake hit a three up top the arc, then Charles Thompson knocked down a hook shot to give Towson an early 5-3 lead three minutes in.
• Delaware got space in the paint on runs to the tin, led by Jameer Nelson Jr.  Nelson had the final five points in a 12-3 run for the Blue Hens as Delaware took a 15-8 lead with 12:57 to go in the first half.
• Chase Paar muscled his way into the paint for back-to-back field goals to get Towson within a possession.  Each side started the exchange points, but Jyare Davis hit a trio of shots for Delaware to give the Blue Hens a 25-16 lead with eight minutes left in the 1^st.
• Towson continued to struggle on offense as Delaware got into the paint and added to its lead.  The designated visitors led by as many as 16 with 4:59 to play in the half.
• With Towson's frontcourt playing in foul trouble, the Tigers chipped away with paint points and free throws.  Towson earned a 12-3 run to finish the first half and go into the locker room down 35-28.
• After Davis hit a layup for Delaware, Towson guards started to pick up the pace.  The Tigers scored seven points in a row, capped by five straight Jason Gibson points, to pull within two at 37-35 three minutes into the second half.
• Delaware got back baskets to retain the lead, then Towson would respond and pull right back to within one possession.  Timberlake flew to the basket on a missed three for a layup to get Towson within three at 44-41 with 12:47 to play.
• Towson could not bridge the gap as Delaware started to hit outside shots.  Threes from Kevin Anderson and Ebby Asamoah pushed the Blue Hens back up 10 at 54-44 with eight minutes left.
• The Tigers stopped the run with a Thompson layup to pull within eight.  Delaware's defense kept holding down the Tigers, getting the lead back up to 13 with 5:32 left.
• Following a couple of Cam Holden free throws, the two teams combined for two points in the next 2:36, a Holden layup, as Towson got to within nine again.  Towson kept the game going with fouls but could not bridge the final gap and fell 69-56.

Inside the Numbers

• This was Towson's third-ever appearance in the CAA semifinals, including appearances in 2009 and 2017.
• Nicolas Timberlake has scored in double figures in 26 games while Cam Holden has in 25.

Next Game:

• Towson will head to the 2022 Postseason NIT.  The bracket will be announced on March 13.

- TowsonTigers.com –