By Robert Kenly
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Towson didn’t need a buzzer beater or a last-possession defensive stop to win its home opener. The Tigers won handily — leading George Washington most of the way and by double digits for almost all of the second half in its decisive 72-58 victory Tuesday on opening night at SECU Arena.
It’s hard to choose just one moment that illustrates Towson’s impressive performance. So here are five that show how the Tigers got the job done.
Key moment 1: 13-2 run in the last 3:30 of the first half
Both teams started the game sloppy, forcing multiple turnovers and questionable shot selection. As the game progressed, each team began to catch fire from the field. The game was tight heading into the under-four-minute media timeout. But then, Towson erupted, going an a 13-2 run to end the half, giving the team a 32-23 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Key moment 2: Sophomore guard Allen Betrand stepped up to end the first half
Leading all scorers is Allen Bertrand with a red hot hand knocking down 6 of his 10 shots for a total of 13 points
— Jalon Dixon (@theknockdownjay) November 6, 2019@TowsonMensBball #MCOM402
Betrand started just four games last season, but he received the nod tonight from Towson coach Pat Skerry. After averaging only 4.6 points per game last year, he started his season off hot, shooting 6 of 10 from the field with 13 points in the first half, leading both teams. His scoring spurt at the end of the half gave Towson a 32-23 lead.
Key moment 3: Freshman guard Jason Gibson showed deep-range off the bench
Gibson was playing high school basketball in Washington, D.C. just months ago. In his college debut, he showed promise — and plenty of range. He was one of the first guys off the bench and began facilitating the offense as soon as he hit the court. While he was always looking to get others involved, he showed off his shooting, as well. From beyond the arc, he began 3 for 3 and helped keep the Tigers lead at double digits.
Key moment 4: Senior forward Dennis Tunstall returned to the game following injury
As one of the leaders of the Towson men’s team, when Tunstall left the game injured, many fans held their breath as they hoped it was nothing serious. After getting checked out by trainers, Tunstall eventually returned the game and quickly made an impact. He had a put-back dunk that extended the Tigers’ lead to 17 points. Tunstall was voted to the All-CAA defensive team last year and led the team in rebounding, averaging 7.7 per game. It will be essential for the Tigers to have him healthy throughout the course of the season.
Key moment 5: The win itself
After finishing the 2018-19 season with just 10 wins, it was important for the Tigers to kickstart their 2019-20 campaign on a high note. Brian Fobbs and Tunstall are the key returning starters, but big games from Betrand and Juwan Gray were the difference against George Washington. Betrand finished the game on 7-of-15 shooting with 18 points, while Gray had 17 and was 3 of 3 from deep. This was a revenge game for Towson because of its 68-64 loss to George Washington last year.