Towson men surge late for 67-61 win in opener
Keith’s jumper helps secure lead; Mount St. Mary’s women fall to Pittsburgh
William Adala Moto and Mike Morsell combined to score 43 points, and the visiting Towson men’s basketball team used a late surge to knock off former Colonial Athletic Association rival George Mason, 67-61, in the season opener for both teams Saturday night.
The Patriots held a 31-30 lead at halftime and nursed a slim lead through much of the second half. But Eddie Keith II’s jumper with 8:29 left gave the Tigers the lead for good, 47-46.
Otis Livingston hit two free throws with 15 seconds left that got George Mason within four, 65-61, but Morsell (21 points) and Adala Moto (22) each converted free throws to keep the Patriots at bay.
Jalen Jenkins had 19 points to lead the hosts.
The teams were CAA rivals for 12 seasons. The Patriots won 19 straight meetings with Towson before losing their final league game.
Women
PITTSBURGH 89, MOUNT ST. MARY’S 54: Junior Caroline Hummell registered her first career double double with a career-high 11 points and 10 rebounds, and graduate transfer Mikal Johnson chipped in a team-high 14 points, but the Mountaineers dropped their season opener to the host Panthers.
Hummell scored nine of her 11 points in the second half and went 4-for-7 from the field to lead the Mount. The junior’s 11 rebounds eclipsed her previous career high of five, which she registered last season against Saint Francis (Pa.). Johnson had 14 points on 5-for-11 shooting in her Mount debut, and junior Katrice Dickson also reached double figures with 10 points.
Five Panthers posted double-digit scoring performances, led by Jasmine Whitney’s 17 points. Alayna Gribble and Kauai Bradley each had 16 points apiece.
The Mount and Pittsburgh traded field goals through much of the first quarter, but the Panthers came on strong in the final minutes, scoring the last eight points to take a 23-13 advantage into the second.
Friday women
TOWSON 90, MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL 56: Raven Bankston and Sianni Martin combined for 51 points to lead the host Tigers to victory in the season opener for both teams.
The 90 points scored were Towson’s most since the 2003-04 team had 92 points in a win over UMES.
LOYOLA MARYLAND 74, LIPSCOMB 30: Senior guard Lisa Mirarchi matched her career high with 17 points as the host Greyhounds won the season opener for both teams.
The 44-point margin of victory marked the largest in coach Joe Logan’s head coaching career. It was also Loyola’s second-largest margin of victory in a season opener. In 1988, Loyola started the year with a 94-30 win over Columbia Union College.
WAKE FOREST 75, NAVY 65: Justice Swett scored 12 points for the Midshipmen (0-1) in the loss to the host Demon Deacons (1-0).
UMES 75, CHEYNEY 38: Keyera Eaton scored 19 points off the bench to lead the host Hawks (1-0) to a victory over the Division II Wolves (0-1).
UMBC 67, COLUMBIA 56: Taylor McCarley scored a game-high 34 points to lead the Retrievers past the host Lions in the season opener for both teams. UMBC led 32-20 at halftime. VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH 73, COPPIN STATE 44: Senior guard Keena Samuels finished with a team-high 11 points, but the Eagles fell to the host Rams in the season opener for both teams. TOWSON 67, GEORGE MASON 61 TOWSON (67): Morsell 7-16 7-9 21, Thomas 0-1 0-0 0, Keith 2-5 0-1 5, Adala Moto 8-20 4-5 22, Morman 2-5 4-6 8, Davis 3-4 0-0 6, Tunstall 0-0 0-0 0, Martin 0-2 0-0 0, Starr 2-3 0-0 4, McNeil 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 24-56 16-23 67. GEORGE MASON (61): Jenkins 9-11 1-4 19, Abram 2-8 0-1 4, Moore 3-5 7-9 13, Grayer 3-6 0-0 8, Livingston 3-11 3-3 11, Dixon 0-0 0-0 0, Relvao 0-0 0-0 0, Kier 1-5 2-3 4, Newman 0-2 0-0 0, Murrell 0-1 0-0 0, Boyd 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 22-53 13-20 61. 3-point goals—Towson 3-15 (Adala Moto 2-5, Keith 1-4, Davis 0-1, Morman 0-1, Morsell 0-4), George Mason 4-22 (Grayer 2-4, Livingston 2-9, Kier 0-1, Murrell 0-1, Newman 0-2, Boyd 0-2, Abram 0-3). Fouled out—Moore. Rebounds—Towson 37 (Morsell 9), George Mason 29 (Jenkins 7). Assists—Towson 8 (Starr, Morman 2), George Mason 10 (Jenkins 4). Total fouls—Towson 21, George Mason 22. A—4,814 (10,000).