Towson stuns previously unbeaten Liberty, 72–69, behind Tyler Tejada’s late heroics at ESPN Events Invitational

Towson men’s basketball grabbed its biggest win of the young season on Tuesday, edging Liberty 72–69 in Kissimmee, Florida, to advance to the championship side of the ESPN Events Invitational’s Adventure Bracket. The Tigers (5–2) handed the Flames (5–1) their first loss by winning the clutch moments—closing with composed free throws and a game-sealing defensive stand.

How Towson closed out Liberty

Sophomore forward Tyler Tejada authored the defining sequence. After pacing Towson with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks, he knocked down two free throws in the final seconds to stretch a one-point edge, then erased Liberty’s last-ditch attempt with a clean block at the rim as time bled away. Towson’s defense held the Flames to 32 points after halftime and controlled the glass late to prevent second-chance damage.

Towson split the game into two near-identical halves on the scoreboard—36 points before and after the break—but the second stanza featured smarter shot selection and better foul management. With Liberty threatening to string together corner threes, the Tigers flattened closeouts and funneled drives toward help, where Tejada and the back line made the paint inhospitable.

Box score leaders and swing stats

Towson

• Tyler Tejada: 20 pts, 9 reb, 3 blk; perfect in crunch-time at the line

• Jack Doumbia: 15 pts, including Towson’s final six from the field to steady the offense

• Dylan Williamson: 14 pts, timely shot-making to stop Liberty runs

Liberty

• Kaden Metheny: 16 pts, kept the Flames connected from deep and midrange

• JJ Harper: 14 pts, 7 reb, 2 blk, active two-way presence

• Brett Decker Jr.: 13 pts, secondary scoring that fueled a 37–36 halftime lead

Team trends that decided it

• Second-half poise: Towson won the final 5 minutes by valuing possessions and forcing Liberty into late-clock looks.

• Rim protection: The Tigers’ 5 total blocks (three from Tejada) altered Liberty’s downhill approach just enough to flip two key drives into empty trips.

• Free throws under pressure: Towson’s closing makes at the stripe proved the final margin.

What this means for each team

Towson Tigers (5–2): This result travels. Beating an undefeated mid-major with a top-tier perimeter engine on a neutral floor is the kind of résumé nugget that matters in March. More importantly, it reinforces Towson’s identity: physical defense, rebounding ownership, and a featured scorer who can close. Tejada’s late-game calm hints at a blueprint for tight contests the rest of nonconference play.

Liberty Flames (5–1): The first blemish doesn’t erase a strong start. The Flames created enough quality looks to win but couldn’t land the dagger in the final possessions. The takeaways are constructive: clean up late-game spacing against switchable fronts and reestablish two-touch paint sequences before launching threes. With a quick turnaround in the bracket, there’s a chance to bank a rebound win and keep momentum into December.

Turning points you might have missed

• The Doumbia run: A quiet three-minute stretch where Jack Doumbia scored Towson’s last six field-goal points stabilized a wobbling offense and set the stage for Tejada’s finish.

• Halftime reset: Trailing by one, Towson shaded an extra defender toward Liberty’s preferred flare action, shrinking the catch windows that produced early rhythm jumpers.

• Final defensive call: On Liberty’s last possession, Towson’s switch forced the ball into traffic, where Tejada’s timing turned a tough two into a highlight block.

What’s next in the ESPN Events Invitational (Adventure Bracket)

Both teams are back on the floor Wednesday, Nov. 26 at State Farm Field House.

• Towson: Moves into the bracket’s top game with a midday tip (12 p.m. ET), seeking a trophy and another neutral-court quality win.

• Liberty: Slides to the third-place matchup later in the afternoon, aiming to exit Florida with a split and a sharpened late-game package.
  (Start times and opponents subject to event scheduling.)

Quick stats snapshot

• Halftime: Liberty 37, Towson 36

• Final: Towson 72, Liberty 69

• Towson scoring trio: Tejada 20, Doumbia 15, Williamson 14

• Liberty leaders: Metheny 16, Harper 14, Decker Jr. 13

• Signature play: Tejada’s two clutch free throws plus a game-saving block at the horn

Towson vs. Liberty delivered everything you want from an early-season neutral: swings, counters, and a star making winning plays. With Tejada closing like a veteran and the Tigers’ defense tightening the screws late, Towson grabbed a statement victory while Liberty gained film that will pay off down the road. This felt like a March-quality finish in November—and it may not be the last time these two look like bracket trouble.