Blue Hens slip up in resumption of CAA basketball game at Towson

Delaware’s month-long wait to finish off a win fell short while Towson’s 20-year title quest ended Monday night at the SECU Arena.

The determined Tigers rallied to down the Blue Hens 69-57  in the resumption of a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball game that had been suspended on Jan. 27.

That night, Delaware led 38-27 with 18:42 remaining when the game was stopped by referees after players on both teams had repeatedly slipped.

BOX SCORE: Towson 69, Delaware 47

The following day Towson officials described the problem as “a micro burst of vapor” settling on the court. They determined it resulted from humidity levels inside the building becoming low after a week of sub-freezing weather and a damp sheen covering the hardwood after more than 1,900 people entered the facility. Towson had women’s and men’s games there on the three subsequent days with no problems.

Towson outscored Delaware 40-19 Monday.

With the win, Towson (24-7, 15-3) tied UNC-Wilmington (21-8, 15-3) for the CAA regular-season title. But Towson earned the No. 1 seed for the upcoming CAA Tournament on tie-breakers, guaranteeing at least a National Invitation Tournament berth if the Tigers don’t win the tourney title and its NCAA Tournament prize.

Towson had never won a CAA regular-season or tournament men’s basketball title since moving to the league prior to the 2001-02 season with Delaware, Drexel and Hofstra, which have each won regular-season and postseason Colonial championships. Towson last won a championship in 1994 in the Big South.

CAA STANDINGS: See where Delaware finished

It took Towson less than 3½ minutes to take the lead, as Cameron Holden’s steal and dunk inched the Tigers ahead 41-40 with 15:19 left. It was part of a 14-0 Towson run that put it ahead 46-40 with 14:35 to go.

Towson could not grow that lead, however, as Delaware stayed close, getting within 55-53 on Kevin Anderson’s jumper with 5:46 left. The Tigers then answered with an 8-0 run, going up 63-53 before a 3-pointer by Jameer Nelson Jr. cut the margin to seven. Delaware got no closer.

Preseason CAA media/coaches poll favorite Delaware (19-12 overall, 10-8 CAA) will be the fifth seed in the CAA Tournament starting this weekend at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. The Blue Hens will face fourth-seeded Drexel (15-13, 10-8) Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals.

TITLE TEAM: UNCW finishes what it started with win at Delaware

The Blue Hens and Dragons split their regular-season meetings, each winning on the other’s home court. The Blue Hens prevailed in Philadelphia 81-77 on Jan. 11 before Drexel returned the favor at the Carpenter Center with a 76-68 triumph on Feb. 3.

The rivals have meet three times in the postseason in their previous 20 seasons in the CAA, with Delaware winning each time – in the 2002 quarterfinals and 2006 and 2008 play-in rounds.

The Drexel-Delaware winner advances to Monday’s 6 p.m. semifinals to play the victor of the quarterfinal between Towson and play-in survivor William & Mary or Northeastern. The title game is Tuesday, March 8, at 7 p.m.