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U Tiger Tracks
TIGER CLUB
Published exclusively (or Tiger Club members
by the Athletic Department.
CAGERS SPLIT FIRST FOUR DIVISION I GAMES
December 12, 1979
After our first four games* as a Division I team, our basketball team has to be
rated as one of the biggest surprises of the East. Despite having a very young team,
Coach Vince Angotti has directed the team to a 2-2 record, a far cry from what many
pre-season prognosticators had predicted was in store for our young squad.
In the season opener, we extended American University to the limit as the Eagles
breathed a sigh of relief, escaping from the Towson Center with a 66-63 win. Two
nights later, North Carolina-Wilmington was not as fortunate. The Seahawks, a Divi¬
sion I team which won 19 games each of the past two years and was considered for an
NIT bid last March, jumped out to a 14-7 lead. However, we came back, took a five-point
lead at half time and showed poise down the stretch, nipping the 'veteran UNCW squad,
64-62.
Fairleigh-Dickinson came into Towson aware we weren't a team to be taken lightly,
but the Knights followed a similar pattern as UNCW. FDU jumped out to a 16-8 lead,
Vince called time out, and before you could say "A1 LoBalbo" (FDU's coach), it was
17-16, Tigers. A seesaw battle ensued until the Tigers pulled away for an 80-66 win
in the final ten minutes.
Our first road game produced more of the same. Against a highly-regarded Kent
State squad, we rallied from an 18-point deficit, forcing 35 turnovers by a team which
nearly took Illinois to the wire the week before. However, our comeback fell short
for a 74-67 loss, although Vince was once again pleased by the poise our freshman
showed playing before a hostile crowd in Ohio.
After four games, several things are clear. First, as Vince promised, this is
going to be a hustling, exciting team. Second, this team is never going to quit.
Third, for a young team, we have exceptional poise.
On paper, there are many games coming up which should be losses. However, with
this team, one can never be sure. A lot of people who picked Towson to finish last in ■' j
the ECAC Southern Division are shaking their heads in amazement right about now, because
with a few breaks, the American U. loss goes in the win column and we're 3-1.
We've received very balanced scoring in the early going with junior guard Mike
Lyles leading the way with a 13.5 scoring average. Freshman Michael Sharpe is averaging
13.2 ppg, leading the team with a .514 field goal percentage. Freshman guard Donald
Leslie, who hit three crucial free throws in the final 11 seconds to beat UNCW, is
averaging 11.7 points per game. Freshman forward Mark Cooley has a 9.2 scoring average,
while freshman David Bonner is scoring at a f ive-points-per-game clip. Junior center
Joe Miller leads the team with seven rebounds and four assists per game in addition to
scoring six points a game. Juniors Dave Allen and Bill Smith have also made strong
contributions, while 5-8 freshman Dwayne Purnell has proven to be an excellent ball-
handler late in the game.
After Saturday's game at Murray State, we're on the road again December 27,
facing Long Island University in New York. However, we've got three home games in
early January to start the new year off right.
On January 3, we host New England contender Maine at the Towson Center at 8:00.
After a trip to North Carolina State on January 5, we're back home against ECAC
Southern rival James Madison on January 7 at 8:00. On January 12, we host Tennessee
State at 8:00.
WOMEN CAGERS "BREEZE" TO FOUR STRAIGHT
Coach Breezy Bishop's women cagers will take a well-earned rest until January 7
after opening the season with four straight wins - by an average of 37 points per game.
We opened with an 89-47 victory over Richmond and followed that with an 89-34 romp
over Salisbury State. Going on the road, we whipped Frostburg State, 85-56, before
returning home for Monday night's win, a relative "nailbiter" over defending state
champion Bowie State College, 93-71.
However, when we return from the holidays, things promise to get rougher. On
January 7, our women host Glassboro State at 6:00 before the men take on James
Madison. Then, from January 9-11, we host an outstanding field of women's teams for
the Towson State Invitational Tournament. Joining our Tigers in the eight-team field
are Kean College of N.J., Navy, LaSalle, Catholic, Delaware, Lock Haven State, and
Slippery Rock.
To date, we've averaged 89.2 points per game, an exceptional total for women's
basketball. Senior Janet Flora, a transfer from Missouri after earning All-American
honors at Essex C.C., is averaging 20.2 points per game. Another transfer, Nancy
Schatz (from College of Notre Dame) is averaging 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
Senior Vonda Wilkins has an 11.2 scoring average with 15.5 rebounds per game, including
23 against Frostburg. Freslmian Tina Wicks is averaging 9.2 points and 3.2 assists
per contest. 6—2 senior Chris Pulaski is averaging 8.5 points per game and seven
rebounds after a 22-point, 2 1-rebound effort against Bowie.
