SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — Ty-Laur Johnson scored 22 points and San Diego used a dominant defensive first half to build an insurmountable lead, defeating Pacific 66-54 in a West Coast Conference men’s basketball game on Sunday at Jenny Craig Pavilion.

The Toreros improved to 6-7 overall, while the Tigers fell to 9-5.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the opening minutes, as San Diego’s aggressive defense completely disrupted Pacific’s offensive rhythm. The Tigers committed five turnovers before the first media timeout and struggled to find any scoring traction against the Toreros’ pressure.

Johnson, a guard from Brooklyn, New York, was the catalyst from the outset. He opened the scoring with a 3-pointer just 45 seconds into the game and followed with a steal and driving layup less than two minutes later. His defensive activity set the tone, as he recorded three of his game-high five steals in the first five minutes, leading directly to transition opportunities.

Pacific’s early struggles were profound. The Tigers missed their first five field goal attempts and turned the ball over seven times in the first seven minutes. San Diego capitalized with a 12-2 run, fueled by Johnson and fellow guard Juanse Gorosito, who finished with 17 points. The Toreros’ lead ballooned to 15-5 and they never looked back, maintaining a double-digit advantage for nearly the entire remainder of the contest.

Pacific, which entered the game as a 3.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, shot a frigid percentage in the first half and managed only 23 points before intermission. The Tigers’ 31 points in the second half were not enough to mount a serious challenge, as San Diego consistently answered any modest push with timely scoring.

Justin Rochelin led Pacific with 13 points, and TJ Wainwright added 15. But the Tigers’ offense never found consistency, hampered by 18 total turnovers that San Diego converted into 19 points.

While Johnson’s scoring was pivotal, his backcourt partner Gorosito provided crucial support, and Toneari Lane added 12 points, including a pair of key second-half 3-pointers that stifled Pacific momentum. Adrian McIntyre chipped in 10 points for the Toreros.

San Diego led 34-23 at halftime and extended its lead to as many as 17 points in the second half. The Toreros’ largest lead came at 62-45 following a Johnson 3-pointer with 4:29 remaining, effectively sealing the victory.

The game’s total of 120 points fell well under the pregame over/under line of 149.5, a direct result of the defensive-minded first half and Pacific’s ongoing offensive woes.

For San Diego, the win marked a positive start to WCC play and provided a bounce-back performance after a 30-point road loss at Washington earlier in the week. Johnson, who was held to seven points in that contest, returned to form, nearing his season-high scoring output.

Pacific, which had won five of its last six games, saw its offense stall in its conference opener. The Tigers will look to regroup quickly as they continue a Southern California road trip at Loyola Marymount on Tuesday.

San Diego, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround and a major test, hosting nationally-ranked Gonzaga on Tuesday night. The announced attendance was 1,279.