The Tigers fall to Elon
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On Tuesday, the Towson Tigers (10-4, 0-1) faced off against the Elon Phoenix (9-5, 1-0) in a CAA Conference matchup. This was the Tigers fourth game of a four game road trip, but they were also nursing a three game losing streak.
The Tigers started off hot with all five starters recording a basket before an early 18-9 lead. Elon started off shooting cold, 3 for 15. Alex Thomas of Towson was subbed out with 3 fouls at the second media timeout.
The Tigers went on a two and a half minute period where they didn’t score and the Phoenix battled back into the game, bring the deficit as close as 4.
The Tigers went on a scoring run of their own before the final media timeout of the first half, but failed to score in the final 4:07. Zane Martin lead the way with 9 first half points.
The second half started with Alex Thomas picking up his fourth personal foul :37 seconds in. Elon hit 4 of their first 6 shots, but a Justin Gorham three-pointer pushes the lead back to 2.
Shooting 72% (8-11) early in the second half, a clear opposite of the first, the Phoenix took a 49-45 lead. The Tigers defense showed signs of light with 3 back-to-back defensive stops and they helped motivate a Tiger run featuring a lot of Zane Martin, who also finished with a career high of assists (5).
The Phoenix used three pointers (11) to stay in the game. Both teams shot 70% for most of the half as they traded buckets down the stretch. Tied at 68, Deshaun Morman stole the ball and passed it onto Martin for the lead. Steven Santa Ana of Elon buried a three pointer to take a one point lead, 71-70, with 1:18 to go.
A tough shot by Eddie Keith after a questionable possession gave Towson a 72-71 lead, the Tigers final lead of the game. Thompson hit a two pointer to take the lead for the Phoenix with :17 seconds left. Starr missed two three pointers down the stretch, one after the Tigers final timeout and another after two Phoenix free throws and that was the ballgame in North Carolina. The final score, 75-72, giving the Tigers an 0-2 start to conference play and a 10-5 record overall.
To add onto his assist mark, Zane Martin lead the way with 27 points, also a career high. Eddie Keith was the only other double-figure scorer with 10 points. The Tigers lead for 31:27 in this game, but failed to make shots in the clutch moments of the game.
Next up for the Tigers, home at the SECU Arena against UNC-Wilmington on Friday at 7pm.
