When Gary Neal is hitting his shots early, look out.
The Towson senior?s latest victim was Georgia State, which he lit up for 37 points in the Tigers? 92-65 win Saturday before 1,964 at Towson Center.
Neal was true on all three of his opening long-range shots, and Towson didn?t look back en route to a season-high 92 points.
“It does a lot for me confidence wise, and it does a lot for the team, too,” Neal said of establishing his shot early. “We had great energy after that and we ran away with the game.”
Neal set a Towson (13-13 overall, 7-8 Colonial Athletic Association) record for three-pointers in a game, going 8-for-13 from behind the arc. The Tigers return to action Wednesday, hosting James Madison (4-10, 7-17) at 7 p.m. The Tigers lead the all-time series with the Dukes, 19-6. Expect Towson coach Pat Kennedy to let Neal continue his long-range barrage.
“Its wonderful to watch because I get great pride in watching kids develop as players,” Kennedy said. “I don?t like holding kids back.”
Aside from keeping Neal hot, the Tigers would also like to continue their success in the paint. By establishing an interior offense early, Towson?s big men can create shots for Neal.
“As you go inside, it opens up the whole game,” Kennedy said. “If you go inside and keep going inside ? then it?s hard for people to guard us.”
As it has in nearly every win, Towson continued its success with turnovers Saturday. The Tigers committed just one in the first half against Georgia State (8-17, 4-11), and eventually winning the battle with 11 turnovers to the Panthers? 22.
“Our press worked extremely well,” Kennedy said. “I don?t think I?ve ever had a team with 15 assists and one turnover at halftime.”
Credit junior guard C.C. Williams with running an effective offense.
“Coach tells me to keep driving and the guys will get open,” Williams said. “I just kept that in my mind.”
Williams set a Tigers? record with 14 assists, breaking the record on the three-pointer with which Neal set a one-game record for long-range shooting.
Tiger spots
» Gary Neal?s performance marked the eight time this season he has surpassed 30 points. He finished four points shy of his career high of 41.
» No Towson players logged 30 minutes in the win, as Neal led the way with 28 minutes.
» The Tigers played 13 players in the contest. Kennedy called a time-out with 1:44 remaining to insert seniors Trevan Jackson, Holden Plack and Marc Pratt.
