W&M Men’s Basketball Falls at Towson, 73-67

Adam Hess Leads Tribe With 21 Points

01/15/04 1:55AM

TOWSON, MD - William and Mary’s men’s basketball team outscored Towson, 42-30, in the second period, but could not overcome an 18-point halftime deficit, as the Tribe fell to the Tigers, 73-67, in men’s basketball action tonight at the Towson Center.

The loss drops the Tribe’s record to 4-10 overall and 1-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association, while Towson improves to 5-8 (2-2 CAA).

The Tigers shot 47.2% from the field in the first half, including .462 (6-13) from beyond the three-point line, opening up a 27-9 advantage through the first 10 minutes of the game. Five different Towson players had at least five points in the first half, as the Tribe trailed by as many as 21 points in the period, getting out-rebounded, 24-14.

W&M came back in the second, however, opening with a 6-2 run, including four points by freshman forward Corey Cofield (Wellesley, MA). The Tigers pulled back ahead by 20, leading 53-33 with 13:34 left to play, but a furious W&M rally brought the Tribe to within six, as the College went on a 23-9 run over the next six minutes, bringing the score to 62-56 with 7:15 remaining. Senior forward and CAA Preseason Player of the Year Adam Hess (Grosse Point, MI) keyed the drive, scoring 12 consecutive W&M points over a stretch of less than two minutes and 30 seconds. Towson went up by nine, but a big three-pointer by senior guard Dave Holtzmuller (Eaton, OH) cut the Tigers’ lead back to six. Lawrence Hamm hit a shot to put Towson up by eight, but another Holtzmuller jumper brought the lead back down to six. A free throw by junior guard Nick D’Antoni (Myrtle Beach, SC) and a layup by senior forward Zeb Cope (Hopkins, SC) brought W&M to within three points, 67-64, with 1:44 on the clock. That would be the Tribe’s last score until the final second of the game, however, as the Tigers scored six unanswered points, including making four of six from the free throw line in the final 35 seconds. D’Antoni hit a three-pointer as time expired, putting the final score at 73-67 in favor of Towson.

Hess led all scorers with 21 points in the game, while Cope had 15 points and six rebounds and sophomore guard Taylor Mokris (Charlotte, NC) had 13 points. D’Antoni was credited with a career-high 11 assists in the game, just the 17th time in W&M history, and the first in more than four years, that a Tribe player collected 10 or more assists in a single game. D’Antoni also tied a career-high with seven rebounds, a feat he initially accomplished in the first game of his college career. Cofield had a game-high nine rebounds to go with five points, three assists and two steals. Mike Green led Towson with career highs in points (18), rebounds (7) and assists (9), while Jamaal Gilchrist added 11 points for the Tigers and Hamm and Andrius Petkunas each had 10.

W&M will look to end its five-game losing streak on Saturday, January 17, when the Tribe returns to action with a 7:00 PM home game against Drexel at William and Mary Hall.


Box Score