EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Lafayette Dorsey scored 18 points and Pacific held on down the stretch to post a 74-65 victory over SIU-Edwardsville in a season opener Tuesday night.

Pacific lead by as many as 23 points in the first half and held a 40-21 advantage at the break, but the Cougars battled back to cut the deficit to four points with less than two minutes to play.

The Tigers opened the game on a roll, jumping to a 16-0 lead before SIU-Edwardsville freshman Cameron Williams hit the team’s first field goal with 14:33 left in the half.

David McFarland scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half to spark the Cougars’ comeback, converting a four-point play early in the half and then knocking down three treys.

Anthony Townes had 15 points and Roberto Gallinat added 13 for Pacific, which hit seven free throws in the final 42.5 seconds to preserve the win.