TOWSON, Md. ? Towson will host crosstown rival Morgan State on Saturday, February 21 at 4:00 p.m. in the Towson Center as one of 51 games that comprise the seventh annual ESPNU BracketBusters.
The Tigers and Bears, who will meet for the 23rd time, last faced each other on November 28, 2005 in the Towson Center. The Tigers prevailed 71-66 to even their series with the Bears 11-11.
Towson is 1-1 in its brief BracketBuster history. The Tigers bowed to Bucknell in Lewisburg two years ago before beating High Point in the Towson Center last year.
Morgan is currently 12-10 on the year and in first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with a 7-2 mark. Included among its victories is a stunning 66-65 win over the Maryland Terrapins in College Park. Towson and Morgan have one common opponent this season in Hampton. The Tigers beat the Pirates 82-73 while the Bears bowed 62-57.
BracketBusters, named because of the success of the teams in NCAA Tournament play, features all 12 teams from the CAA and the Mid-American; 10 from the Missouri Valley, Horizon League, Metro Atlantic Athletic (Loyola) and Ohio Valley; nine from the Western Athletic and Big West; four from the America East (UMBC) and Southern; three from the Big South, two from the Big Sky, Summit and Big South and one from the Mid-Eastern Athletic (Morgan State), Northeast and Patriot.
The field includes teams with 77 appearances in the last five NCAA Tournaments, including a team in the Final Four ? George Mason (2006); one in the Elite Eight ? Davidson (2008) and six Sweet Sixteen squads ? Butler (2007), Southern Illinois (2007), Bradley (2006), Wichita State (2006), UW-Milwaukee (2005) and Nevada (2004).
Drexel, James Madison, UNC Wilmington, Old Dominion, Towson and William & Mary are playing home games, while Delaware, George Mason, Georgia State, Hofstra, Northeastern and VCU are road teams.
As part of the agreement, all BracketBusters home teams in 2009 will play a “return” game at the home facility of their opponent in November or December next season.
"I've been a real proponent of playing local teams," said Pat Kennedy, "and I think this is great. Morgan is having an excellent year and this should be a very exciting game. I know we're looking forward to it."
Tickets for the game may be purchased at the Towson University Ticket Office which is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or by calling 410-704-2244.
