Player ejection gives Delaware shot at comeback, but Blue Hens can't convert vs. Towson
When Towson low-post stalwart Charles Thompson was ejected with his second technical foul and 12:56 on the clock, it seemed to open the door for a Delaware comeback Saturday at the Carpenter Center.
Towson slammed it shut, eventually leaving the Blue Hens as frustrated victims of a 67-56 Coastal Athletic Association basketball defeat in front of 2,792.
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Down 44-39 after Jyare Davis’ two free throws then, Delaware never could demonstrate the offensive firepower needed to take the momentum or orchestrate a win.
“We gotta find ways to manufacture a little more points,” Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby said. “You can’t beat anybody scoring 56 points.”
The exit of two-time second-team All-CAA pick Thompson didn’t change anything.
He had knocked the ball out of Davis’ hand after being called for foul and earlier belatedly wrestled Gerald Drumgoole Jr. for a rebound into a courtside table. The 6-10 Chase Paar stepped in for Towson and made a difference.
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“I thought we had some good looks that we needed to make in transition,” Ingelsby said. "… Just could never get [the deficit] to two or three points or get a tie. Tough night for us offensively but all credit to them. They’re a very good defensive team.”
Delaware slipped to 12-9 overall and 4-4 in the CAA.
Towson (13-8, 6-2), which handed Drexel its first CAA loss Thursday, won its fourth straight while improving its own candidacy for CAA supremacy.
The rivals will meet again Feb. 8 at Towson.
Delaware’s struggles were exemplified statistically in several ways.
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That included 18-for-46 shooting overall (season-low 39%), 5-for-19 aim on 3-pointers (26%) and 14 turnovers, four more than the Hens’ season average. Towson also enjoyed a 44-31 advantage in rebounds keyed by 15 offensive boards that helped the Tigers score 12 second-chance points.
Davis was the only Blue Hen in double figures with 18 points, as Niels Lane was next with nine. Christian Ray had a game-high 12 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Christian May’s game-high 23 points included 3-for-6 aim on 3s.
“They played good defense,” Davis said. “It’s about us. We got certain things we needed to do better at the offensive end and the defensive end to win that game. They were tougher today.’’
Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware Blue Hens lose to Towson Tigers in CAA basketball
