NCAA News Wire
Navy 61, Towson 56
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Worth Smith, sidelined since Navy’s season opener due to a dislocated left knee cap, returned to the lineup in style Monday night, scoring 20 points as the Midshipmen defeated the visiting Towson Tigers 61-56 at Alumni Hall in Annapolis, Md.
Smith, a 6-foot-6 forward, led Navy in both scoring and rebounding last season but had not played since he injured that knee in the Nov. 14 season opener against Michigan State.
The senior gave Navy a big boost on offense in this game. He made seven of 14 shots from the field plus five of seven free throws. Smith also had nine rebounds and two blocks.
Guard Brandon Venturini helped Navy (4-8) with 19 points. He went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
Free throws proved crucial for Navy as the Midshipmen made 23 of 29. Towson (7-5), which now has lost four straight, hit only 19 of 34 free throws.
Guard Byron Hawkins led Towson with a career-high 23 points.
Navy took the lead late in the first half and held a 32-24 edge at the break. Towson struggled on offense but cut the lead to 59-56 when guard Four McGlynn made a three-point shot with five seconds left.
Venturini then locked up the win with two free throws.
Towson gets a break for a week before it hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Dec. 29. Navy also gets time off, returning to the court on Dec. 31 for its Patriot League opener at home against Loyola (Md.).
