WILMINGTON, N.C. – The Towson University men's basketball team started conference play against the UNCW Seahawks on Thursday night. The Tigers (6-8, 1-0 CAA) defeated the Seahawks (10-4, 0-1 CAA) 65-61 in overtime.
 
Tyler Tejada led the Tigers with a game-high 21 points and four rebounds. Christian May finished with ten points and eight rebounds.
 
 
Key Stats vs UNCW:

• The Tigers grabbed a season-high 50 rebounds.
• Towson finished with 17 offensive rebounds and had 14 second chance points.
• The Tigers held UNCW to 33.9% from the field, a season-low for the Seahawks.

 
How It Happened vs UNCW:

• Christian May scored Towson's first five points as the Tigers trailed early in the first half.
• The teams went back-and-forth trading baskets then Towson went on a 20-5 run sparked by a Dylan Williamson corner three-pointer to lead 27-22.
• The Seahawks scored seven of the final nine points of the half to tie the score at 29 heading into halftime.
• The Tigers took an early lead in the second half scoring nine of the first 14 points led by Nendah Tarke's five points.
• UNCW went on a 11-6 run to have a 45-43 edge with ten minutes remaining in the second half.
• Towson responded by scoring six of the next eight points to retake a two-point lead.
• The Seahawks countered by scoring nine straight points to have a 56-49 advantage with 3:46 left.
• Williamson and Tyler Tejada each hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit down to one.
• UNCW hit a free throw to extend its lead to two, but Tejada made two free throws to even the score at 57 with 1:27 left in the second half.
• Caleb Embeya got a steal with 11 seconds left to give Towson the ball. The Tigers had a chance to win in regulation, but Williamson's jumper went off the rim and the game went to overtime.
• The Seahawks held a two-point lead midway through overtime after a couple of free throws.
• Tejada drained a mid-range jumper to even the score at 61 with 2:23 left in overtime.
• Towson's defense held UNCW scoreless for the remainder of the game as Tomiwa Sulaiman's putback dunk gave Towson a two-point lead with 32 seconds remaining.
• Tejada added two late free throws to give the Tigers a 65-61 overtime victory over UNCW to start conference play 1-0.

Inside the Numbers vs UNCW:

• This Towson's first overtime win since January 11, 2024 against Stony Brook.
• Tomiwa Sulaiman grabbed ten rebounds tonight and has finished with double-digit rebounds in back-to-back games. He also has finished with six offensive rebounds in consecutive games.
• Abdou Samb had a season-high eight points and two rebounds off the bench tonight.

 
Next Game:

• The Tigers stay on the road and play the College of Charleston on Saturday, January 4th at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on FloCollege.