IVnvkni Stoic
Tiger Tracks
Published exclusively lor T iger Club members
by the News and Publications Services
Tuesday, March 2, 1976
BALTIMORE U. EDGES TIGERS FOR M-D CROWN
Towson's men's varsity basketball contingent took two of three games in the Mason-Dixon
Championship Playoffs last weekend at U.M.B.C., thus finishing second to the Tigers' main
nemesis for 1975-76, the Baltimore University Bees. Our Tigers lost three of four to the pesky
Bees on the season, with our only win over Baltimore coming on Dec. 5 in the Schaefer Metro
Tourney, another tournament in which the Tigers were runner-up!
Our Tigers drew Catholic University in the opening round last Thursday night in a game
matching the 3rd and 6th place teams in the final conference standings. Towson drubbed the
Cardinals, 89-71 with a 60 point second half outburst after we had trailed 31-29 at halftime.
The 60 point total is Towson's best for one half for the season. Junior guard Rod Norris turned
in a fine showing for the Tigers with 18 points to lead the club, while Pat McKinley pulled down
a season high 21 rebounds. Norris, an All-Tournament choice for his play in the three games,
also chipped in with 10 assists in the win over Catholic U. In other first round action, Loyola
swamped George Mason, 80-66, Mount St. Mary's pulled away from Salisbury State, 79-65, and
Baltimore U. survived an inspired effort from the upset-minded U.M.B.C. Retrievers to win,
51-45. The Tigers then met Mount St. Mary's while the Bees battled Loyola College in the semi¬
finals Friday night.
Towson topped the Mount for the second time in three starts, 87-77, but few people
didn't have sweaty palms or short fingernails when that one was over. The Tigers had jumped to
a commanding 20 point lead during one stretch but had to withstand a Mountaineer rally that at
one time closed the gap to a single point. Thanks to some clutch ball handling and free throw
shooting the Tigers pulled away gradually in the closing moments and earned the 10-point margin
of victory. McKinley paced the attack with 17 points to go with 16 rebounds and senior Francis
Clay doled out four assists. Towson then sat and watched the mighty B.U. Bees demolish an out-
manned Loyola Greyhound squad, 84-61, as the Bees controlled the game from the outset and at
one point led by 31 points at 69-38.
In the final contest last Saturday night it appeared that our Tigers would shake the
second-place jinx that has plagued them in Metro Tournaments and go on to cop the tourney
crown. In fact, Towson led by as many as 10 points with 15 minutes remaining but could not
thwart the B.U. comeback drive. The Bees won, 67-63, thanks mainly to George Pinchback,
Cleveland Rudisill, and Ronald Smith. The victory insured the Bees a berth in the N.C.A.A.
Division II South Atlantic Regionals which begin in Norfolk, Va. next week while the loss
virtually eliminated any chances our Tigers had of making the grade. Brian Matthews led all
Towson scorers in the finale with 16 points, and McKinley added 8 rebounds. The loss also dropped
Towson to 19-10 for the season, just missing the 20-win plateau. They were 8-6 in the Mason-Dixon
Conference and 8-2 in tournament, having won the Lebanon Valley Holiday Tournament in December.
In non-league competition we went 9-3, losing only to Morgan State U. (70-64 in overtime),
C.W. Post (75-64), and Wheeling College (90-86). We defeated York College (twice), Randolph-Macon
(twice), Bridgewater, Wilmington, St. Mary's, B.U., and Loyola (the latter two in the Schaefer Tourney).
Pat McKinley paced the Towson attack all season long and was named All-Metro first team, the All-
Lebanon Valley first team and its M.V.P., the
АП
first team for the second time, and
the Mason-Dixon Conference All-Tournament first team. Sophomore Bobby Washington also turned
in a fine season, averaging 15.1 points and 9.4 rebounds to McKinley's 17.5 and 11.2, respectively.
Brian Matthews (10.5, 7.1), Savia Sharp (8.8, 3.5), and Rod Norris (6.9, 3.1 assists) also aided the cause
tremendously in 75-76. Seniors Mike Jeffers, Francis Clay, and Ray Tannahill were top performers
all year long for our Tigers, and they will be sorely missed in the lineup next season.
—over—
