March looms and the Colonial Athletic Association’s road to Washington, D.C., faces a tighter traffic jam than the nation’s capital at rush hour. 

Three teams head into the final full week of regular-season competition separated by just one game atop the loss column of the CAA. Towson, which has lingered at the top for much of the campaign, scored an emphatic road win at UNCW on Feb. 17 to move into a loss-column tie for first. 

The 79-55 win showcased the Tigers’ depth, with four scoring in double-figures. Charles Thompson continued his outstanding play of late with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. 

And while Towson and UNCW continue to jockey for position—the two teams that have set the pace in the CAA for the entire season—Hofstra continues to tear down track with some of the nation’s best play in February. 

The Pride took a five-game winning streak, best in the conference, into President’s Day weekend. 

Hofstra is commanding national attention as it chases UNCW and Towson. Aaron Estrada continues to put up some of the best individual numbers in all of college basketball since the beginning of 2022, but it was Omar Silverio stealing the spotlight at Elon. 

OMAR SILVERIO - 11 THREE-POINTERS!#Hofstra School Record@CAABasketball Record@MarchMadnessMBB Single-Game Season-High

INCREDIBLE!#RoarWithPride pic.twitter.com/ECj3Tf0H9v

— WWWWW - Hofstra Men's Basketball (@HofstraMBB) February 16, 2022

“Today, I was on a mission, basically,” Silverio said following his 11 3-pointer, 40-point outburst. “When I hit my sixth shot—it was a step-back—I think- I’m like, OK, ‘I got it going out there, I think I can break the record today.’” 

Who can predict the next remarkable development in this intense CAA season? With just a week-and-change left, plenty more history like Silverio’s eruption could be on the horizon. 

James Madison Vs. Towson 

With Towson having a path to the No. 1 seed at the CAA Tournament, the Tigers must finish business with one of the more unusual final stretches imaginable. 

They host James Madison on Wednesday in the first of back-to-back meetings with the Dukes. Towson travels to Harrisonburg on Saturday, then comes home two days later to play the second half of the suspended Jan. 27 date against Delaware. 

It’s possible that half-game could determine the regular-season championship. Scenarios are not entirely in Towson’s control, but beating the reigning regular-season champion is a must. 

The Dukes have sputtered down the stretch, losing 6-of-9 while dealing with a bevy of injuries. Most notably, guards Takal Molson and Terell Strickland last played Jan. 27 and Jan. 22, respectively. 

JMU’s hit to its depth makes the matchup with Towson difficult. Five Tigers are averaging at least 9.6 points per game, with the duo of Cam Holden and Nicolas Timberlake posting 13.9 and 13.8 to lead the way. 

UNCW Vs. Drexel 

UNCW has spent virtually the entire CAA slate alone in first place, but taking every opponents’ best shot has the Seahawks now fighting to fend off Towson and Hofstra (and, with the right combination of outcomes, Delaware). 

Four Seahawks scored in double-figures in UNCW’s 70-63 win vs. Drexel on Jan. 31, led by Jaylen Sims’ 19. A 38-26 second half made the difference in that meeting. 

The Dragons have been tough at home, going 7-3 through Feb. 17. 

Charleston Vs. Delaware

Delaware isn’t out of the regular-season championship race. The Blue Hens have games coming up against the two league leaders, both of which Delaware trails by two games in the loss column. 

Turning those into potential championship-deciding results is in part contingent on UD holding serve elsewhere. A rematch with Charleston is the last outing before the Blue Hens see UNCW and finish the suspended game with Towson. 

The last time UD and the Cougars met was a nail-biter. 

Delaware escaped Charleston, a 67-66 winner behind 22 points from Jameer Nelson Jr., and a stellar defensive effort over the final 1:12, culminating in a rare walk-off steal by Kevin Anderson.