DeLand, Fla. - The Stetson men's basketball team trailed the entire second half yet battled back and evened the score with 21 seconds remaining and then pulled out a 62-60 win over the visiting Florida Tech Panthers after a pair of free throws by Joel Naburgs (Victoria, Australia) with three seconds on the clock.

Sophomore Tyshawn Patterson (Orlando, Fla.) and freshman Steve Forbes (Clermont, Fla.) led the way for the Hatters with 15 and 12 points respectively. The pair tied for the team lead in rebounds with seven in the team's only preseason exhibition. Senior forward Justin Sedlak (Pezinok, Slovakia) led all scorers with 18 points and added seven rebounds for the visitors.

"Florida Tech did a great job tonight of playing control and did a nice job defending. They have some solid veterans and should have a nice year", said Stetson head coach Derek Waugh.

"I don't think we played particularly well tonight but there were some bright spots. We are definitely a work in progress", he added.

After another week of preseason workouts Stetson opens the 2010-11 season on Friday, November 12 against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C.