Atmospheric conditions outdoors and within Towson University's SECU Arena last Thursday created a "micro burst of vapor" that descended upon the basketball court, rendering it unplayable during the second half of the Tiger's men's basketball game against Delaware.
As reported by Fox affiliate WBFF in Baltimore, Towson interim athletic director Dan Crowley provided an explanation via a statement Friday. "After more than a week of below freezing temperatures outside, the humidity levels inside SECU Arena became low before Thursday’s game," Crowley said. "With a large crowd in attendance, a micro burst of vapor settled on the court, causing the surface to become slippery. The Towson University facilities team addressed the situation and spent Friday making adjustments to prevent this from happening again."
Towson's women's basketball team hosted Northeastern on Friday night as scheduled.
Opened in 2013, SECU Arena hosts Townson's men's and women's basketball teams, as well as its volleyball and gymnastics teams.
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As reported by The Baltimore Sun, the men's game against Delaware was suspended with 18:42 left and the visiting Blue Hens leading 38-29. Several players fell to the floor in the first half, and after Delaware junior guard Jameer Nelson Jr. slipped after halftime, officials gathered and eventually suspended the game until a later date, which has not been finalized.
"I never thought we’d walk down after halftime and the officials would bring us together and talk about ‘Hey, if somebody else falls down, we’re going to suspend the game,’” Delaware coach Martin Ingelsby said Thursday night after the game was suspended.
The nearly 1,900 fans who were asked to leave SECU Arena early were given options. "To thank our fans that were in attendance, we have created three options to consider," Crowley stated. "Fans can keep tickets and join us for the completion of the game once it is finalized. If that option is selected, there are no necessary steps – the ticket will remain valid. The second option is to elect to receive an account credit that can be put towards any other Towson Athletics event this season. Lastly, there is an option of receiving a refund of your purchase."
