Men's Basketball Tussles with Towson in Wilkes Barre Tonight
12/24/2005 9:28:38 AM | Men's Basketball
A holiday homecoming for Syracuse senior guard Gerry McNamara will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 27, as the Orange takes on Towson at the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes Barre, Pa. McNamara, who attended Bishop Hannon High School in nearby Scranton, leads the 9-2 Orange into a 7 p.m. contest against the 3-5 Tigers.
The game will be broadcast by ESPN Regional Television. WAQX - 95.7 FM and WNSS- 1260 AM in Syracuse will carry the Syracuse ISP Radio Network's broadcast, which can be heard through the internet right here at www.suathletics.com SIRIUS Satellite Radio will also carry a broadcast of the game on Channel 122.This will be the third meeting between Syracuse and Towson and the first since 1990 when the two teams dueled in Hershey, Pa. on Dec. 20. The Orange won that meeting, 78-73, and also won a 105-75 decision against the Tigers on Dec. 16, 1989 at the Carrier Dome.
The Orange will look to extend its six-game winning streak. The most recent victory was a 75-61 decision against Illinois-Chicago on Dec. 21, at the Carrier Dome. McNamara paces Syracuse in scoring (17.5 ppg), assists (68), free-throw shooting percentage (.944 - 51-of-54), three pointers made (36), three pointers attempted (105) and average minutes played (35.0).
Towson, coached by college basketball veteran Pat Kennedy, is 3-5 and will be attempting to garner its first win since a 76-45 outcome at home against William & Mary on Dec. 3. Since then, the Tigers have lost games to Northeastern (67-89), American (70-74) and Virginia Military (78-80). Towson's last game was against VMI on Dec. 21. Freshman guard Tim Crossin is another native son playing in this game. He is a shooter from Bishop O'Reilly, who currently leads the team in 3-point FG's made (21), assists (35) and steals (24). He is tied with Lawrence Hamm in minutes played with 286. Hamm leads the Tigers in scoring (146 points for an 18.3 average), rebounding (9.0 rpg), blocked shots (11) and field goal percentage (.642).
Coach Kennedy will be going after his 425th career coaching victory. He ranks among the top 25 active winningest Division I coaches.
