KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Interstat) — The UC San Diego Tritons used a dominant first-half offensive explosion to remain undefeated, fending off a persistent Towson Tigers squad 87 to 73 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Wednesday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

UC San Diego improved its season record to 7-0, while Towson fell to 5-3.

The Tritons seized control of the game from the opening tip, building a commanding 50-31 halftime lead. Towson, playing its second game in as many days, struggled to contain UC San Diego’s balanced and efficient attack in the first period. The Tritons’ lead ballooned to as many as 24 points in the second half before the Tigers mounted a sustained comeback effort.

Towson outscored UC San Diego 42-37 after halftime, chipping away at the deficit behind a stellar performance from Tyler Tejada. The 6-foot-8 sophomore from Teaneck, New Jersey, scored a game-high 27 points, showcasing his versatility with an array of drives, mid-range jumpers and a crucial three-pointer just before the first-half buzzer. He added four rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes of action.

Dylan Williamson, a 6-foot-1 guard from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, provided significant support for the Tigers, scoring 20 points, including five three-pointers. Jack Doumbia came off the bench to add 11 points and five rebounds for Towson.

Despite the individual efforts from Tejada and Williamson, the Tigers could never fully close the gap, as the Tritons consistently answered every run with a key basket. UC San Diego’s victory was a testament to its depth, with six players scoring at least eight points.

Leo Beath, a 6-foot-8 forward from Malibu, California, led the Tritons with 16 points and five rebounds. Aidan Burke, a guard from Los Gatos, California, contributed 14 points and three assists, while Emanuel Prospere of Miami, Florida, provided a major spark with 11 points, four rebounds and relentless defensive energy in just 19 minutes.

The Tritons’ ball movement was exceptional, with Tom Beattie of Auckland, New Zealand, dishing out a game-high six assists. Hudson Mayes of Los Angeles added 10 points, and Bol Dengdit of Melbourne, Australia, anchored the paint with nine points, three rebounds and a key blocked shot.

The game’s opening minutes were a sloppy affair, with both teams combining for multiple turnovers and missed shots before UC San Diego’s Aidan Burke broke the ice with a three-pointer at the 18:21 mark. That basket ignited the Tritons, who quickly built a double-digit lead and never looked back, shooting a blistering percentage from the floor in the first half to build their 19-point cushion.

Towson’s attempt at a second-half rally was valiant but ultimately insufficient against a UC San Diego team that has now secured impressive neutral-site wins over Bradley and Temple earlier in the week. The Tritons were projected as a slight pregame favorite and covered the spread, while the combined score of 160 points went well over the pregame over/under line.

UC San Diego will look to extend its perfect start on the road at Nevada on Tuesday. Towson, after splitting its two games in Florida, returns home to face Cornell on Wednesday.