WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a taut Colonial Athletic Association tournament quarterfinal defined by gritty defense and clutch shot-making, Hofstra survived a monumental individual performance from Towson’s Tyler Tejada to escape with a 68-65 overtime victory Monday night at CareFirst Arena.

The game, played before a sparse crowd of 1,582, saw the second-seeded Pride overcome a 29-point outburst from Tejada and a late regulation rally by the seventh-seeded Tigers to advance in the postseason. The win improved Hofstra’s record to 23-10, while Towson’s season ended at 19-15.

The most critical sequence of the contest unfolded in the final minute of overtime, with the score knotted at 65. After a missed three-pointer by Hofstra’s German Plotnikov, Towson secured the defensive rebound with 37 seconds left, setting up a chance for the final shot. The Tigers worked the clock down, but Dylan Williamson’s jumper from the left side missed with 21 seconds remaining. Jaquan Womack grabbed the offensive board for Towson but missed a hurried put-back attempt.

Hofstra’s Preston Edmead collected the rebound and, without a timeout, pushed the ball upcourt. With the clock dipping under five seconds, Edmead pulled up from well beyond the three-point arc on the right wing and drilled the game-winning shot, giving the Pride a 68-65 lead with just three-tenths of a second remaining. Towson’s desperation heave was unsuccessful, sealing the dramatic victory for Hofstra.

The game was a defensive struggle from the outset, with both teams shooting under 40 percent from the field. Hofstra finished 24 of 63, while Towson was 23 of 62. The Pride’s advantage came from beyond the arc, where they connected on 11 of 30 attempts compared to Towson’s 5-of-16 shooting. Hofstra also won the efficiency battle, scoring 68 points on just 59 possessions for an offensive rating of 114.8, while Towson managed 65 points on 63 trips.

Tejada, a 6-foot-8 sophomore from Teaneck, New Jersey, was the engine for Towson, playing 44 minutes and scoring his 29 points on a mix of tough jumpers and drives. He added two assists but received limited scoring support. Williamson, from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was the only other Tiger in double figures with 15 points.

Hofstra’s backcourt duo provided the necessary counterpunch. Edmead, a 6-foot-1 guard from Deer Park, New York, played 45 minutes and led the Pride with 22 points, including the decisive three. Cruz Davis, a 6-foot-3 guard from Plano, Texas, was equally vital, contributing 18 points, four assists and relentless defensive pressure over 41 minutes.

The regulation period ended in a 55-55 deadlock, mirroring the tight nature of the game where neither team led by more than seven points. Towson held a 28-27 edge at halftime, and the second half was a series of small runs answered by the opponent. Hofstra appeared to seize control late, taking a 55-49 lead with under three minutes left in regulation. But Tejada willed Towson back, scoring six points in a personal 6-0 run, capped by a jumper and a free throw with 1:06 left, to tie the game and ultimately force overtime.

In the extra period, Hofstra struck first with a Silas Sunday layup and a three-pointer from Edmead to go up 65-60. Tejada again responded with a floating jumper and, after a Hofstra turnover, Womack scored inside to cut the deficit to 65-64. Tejada then drew a foul and made one of two free throws to tie the game at 65 with 1:33 left, setting the stage for the final, frantic possessions and Edmead’s heroics.

The game was a stark contrast to the teams’ two regular-season meetings, both comfortable Hofstra wins by 22 and 11 points. Towson’s defensive intensity, holding Hofstra well below its season scoring average, and Tejada’s brilliance made this a classic tournament battle.

Hofstra now moves on to the CAA semifinals, its championship aspirations still intact after a narrow escape. For Towson, the season concludes with a heartbreaking loss that underscored both its resilience and the fine margins of postseason play.