SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — Ty-Laur Johnson scored 23 points to lead San Diego to a 78-69 men’s basketball victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday at Jenny Craig Pavilion. The Toreros used a 40-point first half to build a lead and held off a second-half push from the Lumberjacks. San Diego shot 50% from the field and made 10 3-pointers. Johnson added four assists in 30 minutes for San Diego, which improved to 4-6. Zack Davidson scored 19 points for Northern Arizona, and Arne Osojnik added 17. The Lumberjacks shot 48% but committed 17 turnovers, falling to 4-6. Both teams entered the game with identical records. An announced crowd of 1,119 saw the nonconference matchup. San Diego next plays at UC San Diego on Friday. Northern Arizona hosts Southern Utah on Thursday.

SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — Ty-Laur Johnson scored 23 points and San Diego used a decisive second-half run to pull away from Northern Arizona for a 78-69 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday night at Jenny Craig Pavilion. In a matchup of teams seeking to reach .500, the Toreros (4-6) and Lumberjacks (4-6) traded leads through a tightly contested first half and well into the second. The game turned on a 12-2 San Diego surge midway through the final period, fueled by defensive pressure and timely shooting, that gave the home team a cushion it would not relinquish. Northern Arizona, which led by as many as five points in the early going, found itself in a 51-51 deadlock with 11:01 remaining after a jumper by Isaiah Shaw. From there, San Diego’s defense clamped down, forcing three Lumberjack turnovers over the next three minutes. The Toreros capitalized on the other end, with Toneari Lane draining a three-pointer and Johnson converting a pair of free throws to ignite the critical run. Adrian McIntyre’s transition layup off a Johnson assist capped the stretch, pushing San Diego’s lead to 65-53 with 7:30 to play. The Lumberjacks, who fought back from an 11-point halftime deficit in their previous game only to lose by one, could not mount a similar comeback. They trimmed the deficit to seven points on several occasions but could get no closer, as Johnson and McIntyre combined for 15 points in the final seven minutes to seal the outcome. Johnson, a guard from Brooklyn, New York, led all scorers and added four assists in 30 minutes. His penetration and playmaking were pivotal, especially during the second-half separation. Lane finished with 15 points, all from beyond the arc, going 5 for 10 from three-point range. McIntyre provided a crucial spark off the bench with 10 points, including a three-pointer and a transition layup during the game-defining run. Northern Arizona was led by Zack Davidson’s 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. The 6-foot-9 forward from Mission Viejo, California, was efficient inside but was limited by foul trouble in the second half. Arne Osojnik, a guard from Slovenia, added 17 points, and Ryan Abelman chipped in 14 points and four assists. The game was ultimately decided by San Diego’s offensive efficiency and its ability to convert Northern Arizona’s mistakes. The Toreros scored 78 points on just 66 possessions, an offensive rating of 117.5, and shot 50% from the field (25 of 50) and 43.5% from three-point range (10 of 23). They also made 18 of 24 free throws. Northern Arizona, while shooting a respectable 48.1% overall (25 of 52), managed only 69 points on 67 possessions, hampered by 17 turnovers which San Diego converted into 18 points. The Lumberjacks also struggled from deep, hitting 7 of 20 three-point attempts. San Diego built a 40-29 halftime lead behind 10 first-half points from Johnson and a 7-of-15 effort from three-point range. The Lumberjacks responded early in the second half, using a 14-4 spurt to close within one point at 44-43, setting the stage for the back-and-forth battle that preceded the Toreros’ final push. Both teams entered the contest with identical 4-5 records, and the win gives San Diego momentum heading into a road game at UC San Diego on Friday. Northern Arizona, which has lost three straight, returns home to face Southern Utah on Thursday. An announced crowd of 1,119 watched the game at Jenny Craig Pavilion.

SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum before conference play begins will meet Saturday when the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks visit the San Diego Toreros at Jenny Craig Pavilion. Northern Arizona (4-5) arrives after a 48-73 road loss at Arizona State on Tuesday. The Lumberjacks have lost three straight, including narrow defeats to North Dakota State (68-69) and South Dakota State (62-75). Their offense has been inconsistent, scoring 108 and 93 points in wins earlier this season but being held under 70 in four of their five losses. A bright spot has been guard Isaiah Shaw, who scored a team-high 21 points in 33 minutes against Arizona State. Shaw has shown scoring bursts, including a 22-point performance in a win over Cal Poly on Nov. 24. He will be a primary focus for the Lumberjack attack. San Diego (3-6) is also looking to halt a skid, having lost four consecutive games. The Toreros fell 81-94 to Southern California at home on Tuesday. Their defense has struggled during the losing streak, allowing an average of 85.3 points per game. Guard Dominique Ford provided a spark off the bench against USC, leading the Toreros with 22 points in just 22 minutes. His scoring punch will be needed against a Northern Arizona team capable of offensive explosions. The matchup presents a near-even ledger on paper. Both teams have faced recent struggles, particularly on the defensive end. Northern Arizona will aim to control the tempo and leverage Shaw’s scoring, while San Diego hopes home court and a potential boost from Ford can help them execute more efficiently. This non-conference finale serves as a final tune-up before both teams embark on their respective league schedules. Northern Arizona opens Big Sky play on Jan. 1, while San Diego begins West Coast Conference action on Dec. 30. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.