Charleston, S.C. — Deywilk Tavarez led the charge for Charleston in their victory over Towson, scoring 20 points to secure a 77-69 win on Saturday.

In addition to his scoring, Tavarez contributed seven rebounds to the Cougars’ effort, improving their record to 12-3 overall and 2-0 within the Coastal Athletic Association. AJ Smith matched Tavarez’s scoring output with 20 points as well, demonstrating his accuracy by converting 6 of 8 field goal attempts, including 2 of 3 from beyond the three-point line, and perfectly sinking all of his free throws. Ante Brzovic also played a significant role, scoring 16 points while maintaining an unblemished record at the free-throw line, hitting all eight attempts after finishing 4 of 12 from the field.

For Towson, Tyler Tejada was the standout scorer, finishing the game with 22 points. Tomiwa Sulaiman contributed an additional 15 points, and Mekhi Lowery chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds, helping keep the game competitive.

Charleston took control early in the game, establishing a lead just 43 seconds into the first half and holding onto it throughout. By halftime, they had built a 39-30 advantage with Tavarez scoring 13 points by that point. The Cougars increased their lead in the second half, going on a 9-2 run that extended their advantage to 13 points, making the score 59-46 with just over 10 minutes left to play.

Both teams are set to return to the court on Thursday, with Charleston traveling to Hofstra and Towson preparing to host Northeastern.