Towson hosts Drexel tonight in a match-up that’s as close to a “must-win” situation as the second game of a conference schedule can be. The Tigers have dropped their last five games by an average margin of seven points. Drexel comes into this game on a three game winning streak, including their first two games of CAA play. There is no word at the time of this posting on if starting Point Guard Jason Gibson will return for Towson this evening.
Pat Skerry’s crew are at a sharp inflection point in their season. They were able to mount a strong comeback after going down as many as 16 against College of Charleston, but couldn’t finish the job in overtime. Holding serve at home is a necessity in a one-bid conference, especially with how well the Cougars have played to start the season. Gibson’s back injury has played a major role in Towson’s recent inconsistencies on the offensive side of the court, but the time for excuses has passed.
Drexel was picked 7th in the conference pre-season polls, yet comes into this game with the exact same record as the pre-season favorite Tigers. Losing this game, particularly since it’s being played at home, would be a definitive sign that Towson doesn’t have what it takes to meet expectations this season. Winning won’t cure everything, but it will help steady the ship before they hit the road to Stony Brook and Delaware.
Defense is Skerry’s calling card, but it has gone missing in recent contests. The Tigers haven’t held an opponent below 65 points since December 2nd against LIU. When Towson is winning games they have a clear formula: hard-nosed defense leading into easy opportunities on offense. Skerry’s teams have never been afraid of getting into the grit and grime on the defensive side; returning to that form and creating easy scoring opportunities in transition will go a long way towards a positive outcome this evening.
Game time is 7PM on CBS Sports Network.
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