MELBOURNE, Fla. (Interstat) — The Eastern Florida State men’s basketball team used a dominant first-half offensive display to secure a 94-79 victory over Hillsborough on Saturday at Titan Field House.

The Titans, improving to 10-6, seized control early with a blistering 41-point first quarter, fueled by efficient shooting and a disruptive defensive effort. They connected on five 3-pointers in the opening period, building a double-digit lead that the visiting Hawks could never overcome. Hillsborough fell to 4-5 with the loss.

Eastern Florida State’s offensive execution was the story, as they finished the game shooting 51.5% from the field and an impressive 48% from 3-point range. They scored 94 points on just 79 possessions, a mark of high efficiency. Hillsborough, meanwhile, struggled from deep, making only 4 of 20 attempts, and compounded its problems by converting just 17 of 29 free throws.

The most important stretch of the game came in the final minutes of the first quarter. After Hillsborough had kept pace early, Eastern Florida State closed the period on a 14-0 run to turn a 27-25 lead into a commanding 41-27 advantage. The surge included consecutive 3-pointers from Jevon Yapi and was capped by another from Joviel Acevedo-Arroyo, effectively breaking the game open.

Sean Register Jr. led the Titans with 21 points and seven rebounds, continuing his strong recent form. He was complemented by a balanced scoring attack: Acevedo-Arroyo added 22 points, while Djiby Ly orchestrated the offense with 13 points and 10 assists. Tyson Wilson contributed nine points and seven rebounds.

Hillsborough was led by the scoring duo of Chandler Davis and Ramez Zayed. Davis finished with 24 points and eight rebounds, and Zayed added 18 points and seven rebounds. Nicholas Womack also chipped in 19 points for the Hawks, but the team’s early deficit proved too large to erase despite a 51-point second-half effort.

The Titans maintained their composure and shooting touch throughout the second half, answering every Hawks push. A key sequence came midway through the final quarter when, after Hillsborough had cut the lead to 13, Eastern Florida State responded with a 7-0 run that included a technical free throw and a 3-pointer from Misael Cruz Rodriguez to extend the margin back to 20 and effectively seal the outcome.

Eastern Florida State will travel to face Indian River State next Saturday. Hillsborough returns home to host Santa Fe on Wednesday.