fter Wednesday?s game, Towson University men?s basketball coach Pat Kennedy?s first comments made note of his team?s ability to take care of the ball.
In the Tigers? 85-63 win over Delaware ? the team?s third win in its past four games ? they forced 15 turnovers while committing just seven. At halftime, the Tigers (10-10, 4-5 Colonial Athletic Association) had committed just two turnovers.
“This is the way we?ve been practicing,” Kennedy said. “This is the way we?ve been playing for about two weeks. This is the highest level we?ve played since I?ve been here.”
The biggest change over that span is the permanent installation of junior transfer C.C. Williams as the team?s point guard. In Wednesday?s win, Williams dished out 13 assists, which tied a school record. In the past two games ? both Towson wins ? he has combined for 23 assists. He is averaging 4.9 points per game.
“C.C. found me a whole lot of times today,” senior guard Gary Neal said after scoring 36 points Wednesday to reach 2,000 for his career. “He?s really coming around. He?s our point guard, so he?s our guy. If he keeps playing like this, we?ll be playing late into March.”
Williams? production has increased with a jump in playing time. Sophomore Tim Crossin, who entered the season as the incumbent at point guard, gave way to the quicker Williams.
But Wednesday, Crossin (5.4 ppg) scored nine points on 3-of-3 shooting from three-point range in 16 minutes off the bench.
“Timmy is really working on his shooting,” Kennedy said. “His ball has been flat the last X-number of days. Now, he looked like the old Timmy Crossin. He?s been ball-faking a lot and hesitating. So we told him, ?Timmy, just shoot it.? He can be a tremendous weapon for us down the stretch.”
The Tigers have depth at guard, particularly with players who can handle the ball. Kennedy said if the team had come together sooner, they could be 15-5 right now. Today?s opponent, Hofstra, is 15-5.
