DeLand, Fla. ? Stetson (2-2) took advantage of a double-double by Tim Lang (Victoria, Australia) and another solid team defensive effort to defeat Johnson & Wales (3-5) 59-36 Monday night in the Edmunds Center. The Hatters set a school record for the fewest points allowed in a game. The previous mark was 38 against Wright State in 1975.
Stetson held JWU to 27% (13-48) from the field and just 10% (1-10) from 3-point range. Although Hatters played quite well on the defensive end, their offensive game still shows signs of the early season blahs. The home team shot 32% (19-60) from the field and 55% from the line.
“We tend to be off or on offensively and tonight we were down a bit against their zone,” said Head Coach Derek Waugh. “I have to give our guys credit they never hung their heads defensively.”
After a slow start Stetson went on an 11-0 run that included a Garfield Blair steal, end-to-end sprint and an impressive slam dunk. Coming out of the first media timeout Stetson led 13-3.
With eight minutes to go in the first half the margin had increased by just a point. After a pair of Thomas rainbow 3's Stetson led 23-12. In the final minutes the Wildcats outscored the Hatters 7-6 to make the halftime score 29-19. Stetson, a team that is averaging 35% from the field on the season shot 30% in the first half.
The second half was much of the same as Stetson outplayed its overmatched opponent and outscored it 30-17. It was the Hatters 17th win in the last 19 games on the home floor.
Lang led the Hatters with 13 points and 11 rebounds. He shot 5-11 from the field and equaled his career-high with three 3-pointers (3-5) as well as rebounds (11). Lang also had a season-high two blocked shots. Stetson's leading scorer Garfield Blair (Orlando, Fla.) narrowly missed his second double-double of the season with 11 points and nine rebounds. Kris Thomas (Livonia, Ga.) also scored in double figures for the second consecutive game with 11 points.
It wasn't an impressive win, but it was a solid win in a must-win game for Stetson.
The Hatters hit the road to play Miami in Coral Gables Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. The voices of Stetson men's basketball Murray Miller and Harry Arnold will broadcast the action; their play-by-play and analysis can be heard through Hatter Vision at www.gohatters.com, the official online home of Stetson Athletics.
Tickets for all Stetson home games are available on line at www.gohatters.com. For more information call the Stetson University Ticket Office at (386) 822-8110 or email at Hattertickets@stetson.edu
