Entering the Towson men’s basketball team’s matchup against UNC Wilmington Jan. 22, Tigers junior center Charles Thompson had scored in double figures 14 times during his career at Towson.

But starting with that contest against UNC Wilmington, Thompson has now scored in double figures in 10 straight games. He’s averaging 17.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per contest during that stretch, proving to the best player on the court of late for a Tigers team that is 22-7 overall and 13-3 in the CAA entering its game at James Madison Feb. 26.

Thompson’s transformation into one of the best big men in the CAA is no surprise to those around him.

“In the beginning of the year, we knew he was capable of this,” Tigers graduate guard Terry Nolan Jr. said. “He always showed flashes in practice. I think now he’s just getting his feet under him. He’s getting more comfortable. But his play has been huge — first-team All-CAA, in my opinion.”

It doesn’t take long to notice the 6-foot-7, 240-pound Thompson once the game starts — mostly because of how hard he plays and how active he is, particularly on the defensive end of the court thanks to his rebounding and rim protection. But his offensive game has quickly evolved, with his post game, touch around the rim and hands all taking a big leap forward in recent weeks.

The key to Thompson’s surge has been an increased level of confidence, according to the center. Dating back to Dec. 11, he has scored in double figures in 15 of his last 19 games. Once he got his first big game under his belt — he scored 18 points at Drexel Jan. 3 — this Tiger really got roaring.

“When I mean confidence, I mean about the certain level of shots I’ve been taking. I’ve always overlooked the offensive side,” said Thompson, who earned CAA All-Defensive Team honors last year. “I’ve always never really paid attention to it, but once I realized that could actually get my game going, then it’s like, ‘Oh, OK.’ I have a certain rhythm to it.”

Thompson had his best outing of the season against James Madison Feb. 23, posting 22 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks during an 84-65 win. Dukes head coach Mark Byington said that in the second half, “it felt like there were two of him out there on the court. He was everywhere.”

Byington, who has coached James Madison since last year, mentioned that Thompson is simply on the court more of late than he has been in the past. That’s true: He’s played 30 or more minutes in nine of his last 11 games.

Towson head coach Pat Skerry is impressed by that, too.

“It’s harder for big guys because they hedge, they’ve got to rim run. They run more than guards,” Skerry said. “Guards have it easy. But he just does it all the time. I don’t know how he does it. His family has instilled this work ethic in him and that’s what he just does all the time.”

Thompson’s father, Tony, was a high-level heavyweight boxer, and Thompson credits his dad for helping him fuel his competitive fire. Skerry saw that fire when he was recruiting Thompson, a Fort Washington, Md., product and St. Stephens & St. Agnes (Va.) graduate.

“I loved him when I first saw him. I saw him at the Eastern Invitational. He got an elbow. He was playing against this kid that went to Wake Forest,” Skerry recalled. “… He got hit [by] the elbow and got cut. He ran up the court five more times holding his eye as he was trying to block shots and rebound. I just was like, ‘We’ve got to have that guy.’ He just plays so hard all the time.”

After its game at James Madison Feb. 26, Towson will complete its home game against Delaware Feb. 28. The original game in late January was suspended due to court conditions with the Blue Hens leading, 38-29, with 18:42 to play. After that, the CAA tournament will take place in D.C. from March 5-8, with the winner earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Tigers are searching for their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1991, and if Thompson can continue playing like he has of late, they’ll have a good chance to go dancing for the first time in a long time.

“Just play the way we’ve been playing all year,” Thompson said. “We’re a very good team. As long as we don’t get into our own heads, I think we should be fine.”

Photo Credit: Alex Wright/Towson University

Luke Jackson

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