DeLand, Fla. ? A determined surge late in regulation and a strong defensive effort throughout the game propelled Stetson (1-1) to a 64-58 overtime win over cross-county rival Bethune-Cookman (1-1) Tuesday night in the Edmunds Center. Garfield Blair scored his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the way for the Hatters. Kris Thomas (Lithonia, Ga.) scored seven of his 11 points in the overtime period.
“I have to give our team a lot of credit because offensively this was not a very good night for us yet we found a way to win,” said Head Coach Derek Waugh.
The action was slow early on with neither team grabbing an advantage. A pair of free throws by Eric Diaz (Miami, Fla.) at 10:35 tied the score at 12. The Wildcats then went on their biggest run of the game to give them an eight point lead at 22-14 with 7:15 remaining.
The remainder of the half belonged to A.J. Smith (Cocoa, Fla.). After a couple of free throws he hit consecutive driving layups and Stetson was down by just two with 6:08 remaining. The teams traded hoops until a layup by Tim Lang (Victoria, Australia) tied the score 25-25 heading into the locker room.
In the first half the score was tied four times and the lead changed hands five times. Stetson shot just 32% from the field compared to 35% for the Wildcats and there were 22 total turnovers, 11 by each team.
The action remained constant in the second half with both teams featuring a swarming defense. Once again BCU managed to put together a run and led by eight points with 8:45 remaining after a jumper by Clifford Reed (Daytona Beach, Fla.). Stetson's Mark Lohuis (Vero Beach, Fla.) broke the momentum with a smooth 3-pointer from the right corner and inspired the home team to keep the game close.
With 5:16 remaining and his team down by six, Thomas drove in and hit a layup, then made a great steal and sent Diaz in for a layup at 3:16 to make the score 49-45, and then with 54 seconds remaining hit another layup to tie the score at 51 and send the game into overtime.
“Kris played fantastic tonight. His offensive numbers do not reflect on the great job he does for us defensively. He did a great job guarding Cliff Reed,” said Waugh.
Thomas continued his offensive spurt in the overtime with seven of Stetson's 13 points. A 6-for-6 effort from the line by Blair, Lohuis and Smith sealed the win for the Hatters. Stetson was 11-2 at home last season and is now 1-0 to open the 2008-09 campaign.
Stetson will now head to Tallahassee to face the Florida State Seminoles on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. The game will be televised on FSN Florida. Hatter fans can also listen to the game by going to www.gohatters.com and tuning in to Hattervision where the voice of the Hatters Murray Miller will call the action.
