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Belfast, Northern Ireland - Mike Morsell hit a jumper with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift Towson to a 56-55 win over Manhattan in the Belfast Classic Championship game.
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Sophomore
Aaron Walker Jr. (Brooklyn, NY / Cardozo) scored 16 points while senior
Calvin Crawford added 15 points and four steals to lead the way for the Jaspers.
Crawford averaged 14.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 3.0 spg on the weekend while shooting 58.8 percent (10-of-17) en route to earning All-Tournament Team honors.
After the Tigers started the game with a triple, Manhattan quickly answered before the Jaspers ripped off an incredible run in which they scored 21-straight points that were a direct result of a Towson turnover en route to opening up a 23-10 lead with 7:32 to play until halftime. Manhattan capped its big run with three-straight triples from freshman Patrick Strzala (Bayonne, NJ / Bayonne), Walker Jr. and Waterman.
Towson would make a run of its own in cutting the deficit to four with 2:30 to play until intermission only to see Walker Jr. answer with a resounding dunk as the Jaspers went into the break up 31-22.
After halftime, the Tigers fought back to tie the game at 43-43 with just over nine minutes to play before Crawford hit a pair from the line and Walker Jr. a jumper in establishing a four-point lead.
Towson would rally with four-straight to tie it before senior
Zavier Turner (Indianapolis, IN / Ball State) hit a go-ahead triple. Unfortunately, the Tigers again knotted at 50-50 following a Zane Martin free throw with 3:35 to play while setting the stages for an exciting final few minutes.
Martin gave Towson its first lead since early in the game with a layup with just 2:23 to play following a frantic loose ball situation. Crawford immediately answered with a three pointer before canning a jumper with 1:22 to play in establishing a 55-52 Manhattan lead. The Tigers again responded to make it a one-point game before forcing a turnover on the ensuing possession and hitting the aforementioned winning shot.
The Jaspers had one final shot as Waterman's pass off the inbounds was intercepted as Towson was able to escape with the victory.
Manhattan will return home to host Morgan State on Saturday, December 9 at 7:00 pm.
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