NEWARK, DE -- Herb Courtney bounced back in a big way as the senior forward led four University of Delaware scorers in double figures with 22 points and the Blue Hens posted their first victory of the season with a 70-63 win over Towson in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both teams at the Bob Carpenter Center Monday evening.

Courtney (at right), a second team All-CAA performer a year ago and team’s leading scorer at 13.0 points per game, scored just one point in the Hens’ disappointing 57-52 loss at Iona Friday night but rebounded in a big way as he connected on 9 of 17 shots from the field, hit two three-pointers, and also led the team with eight rebounds vs. Towson. Courtney, who scored 18 of his points after halftime, reached the 20-point mark for the 16th time in his career.

The Hens (1-4, 1-0 CAA), who won their CAA opener for the first time since 2004-05, snapped a 10-game overall losing streak and a four-game home losing skein that both dated back to last season.

Delaware played without head coach Monté Ross, who was sitting out a one-game suspension handed down by the CAA after his conduct following the loss to Iona. First-year assistant Jeff Rafferty took over the reigns and led the Blue Hens to their first win since a 78-69 triumph over UNC Wilmington back on Feb. 7.

“I’m so happy for Herb, he is a great kid who works very hard,” said Rafferty. “He has struggled lately but he came through for us tonight. Our guys really rallied around Coach Ross’ absence. We got great contributions from everybody on the team.”

Towson (3-4, 0-1 CAA), which had defeated Delaware in each of its last two visits to the BCC, had four scorers in double figures but shot just 39.7 percent from the field (23 of 58) and hit 10 less free throws than the Hens. Rodney Spruill led the way with 14 points while Junior Hairston added 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, and Vernon Carr and Rocky Coleman each contributed 10 points.

Delaware freshman guard Alphonso Dawson reached season and career highs with 13 points and seven rebounds while Sam McMahon added 11 points and Brian Johnson chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds, and a game-high nine assists. Delaware, which jumped out to a 36-21 lead and never looked back, hit on 7 of 14 three-pointers and turned the ball over just 11 times.

Towson led for most of the early going but Dawson hit a layup to give the Hens an 8-7 lead and McMahon followed with a three-pointer less than a minute later to give Delaware the advantage for good at 11-9 seven minutes into the game.

The Tigers had narrowed the lead to 18-16 with 8:58 left before halftime on a three-pointer by Jonathan Pease, but the Hens exploded with a 13-0 run over the next six minutes to take a commanding 31-16 lead with 2:57 left. Freshman Edwin Santiago scored five points during the run while Dawson added a dunk and a jumper to cap the drive. The Hens moved on to a 36-21 advantage at the break.

The Hens extended the lead to as much as 20 points several times in the second half - at 48-28 on two McMahon free throws with 14:16 left, at 56-36 on a Courtney dunk, and at 59-39 on a Dawson three-pointer - and enjoyed a double figure lead until the final minute when Towson connected on three three-pointers to make it close.

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