CSU Bombs Way Past Hatters

North Charleston, SC – After holding home-standing Charleston Southern to just one three-point basket in the first half, Stetson was unable to stem the tide of long-range bombs in the second half and fell to the Buccaneers 73-64 on Monday evening.

The loss dropped the Hatters to 3-2 on the year while Charleston Southern improved to 3-2.

The primary thorn in Stetson's side in the second half was junior forward Mathiang Muo. The native of Sydney, Australia, came into play on Monday having hit six three-pointers in the first four games of the year. He matched that total in the second half against the Hatters, part of his game-high 21 points.

The Bucs fully erased what had been a 12-point Stetson lead in the first half when junior Jeremy Sexton hit a three-pointer with 15:22 left to play.

From there, Stetson sophomore Aaron Graham did all that he could do to keep the Hatters in the game. He tied his career-high with five three-pointers, all in the second half, but fouled out in the final seconds with a season-high 17 points.

Combined with junior Joel Naburgs, who scored 12 points in the game, 10 of which came in the second half, the Hatters managed just 10 other points after halftime.

Even with the hot shooting by the Bucs, Stetson still held the lead with 7:25 to go, but that was when Muo started raining threes. He hit bombs on three consecutive trips while the Hatters went cold, giving Charleston Southern a seven point lead.

That advantage grew to as much as 10 points as the outside shooting, combined with Stetson's 26 turnovers, opened up the lane for forwards Kelvin Martin (15 points) and Arlon Harper (14).

The first half was not one that will go on anyone's highlight films. The Hatters got early three-pointers from Adam Pegg, Liam McInerney and Dennis Diaz, but were never able to establish an inside game, despite having a size advantage.

Stetson built its lead to as many as 12 points, 24-12 at the 5:40 mark of the half, but Charleston Southern dominated the rest of the period, outscoring Stetson 10-2 the rest of the way thanks to some poor shots and turnovers.

A tip-in by the Buccaneers' Paul Gombwer just before the horn closed the Stetson lead to 26-22 at the break.

Besides Graham and Naburgs, the Hatters got 10 points in the game from Pegg.

The Hatters will take a week off for Thanksgiving before returning to action next Monday night at the Amway Center in Orlando against the ninth-ranked Florida Gators.

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Players Mentioned

#20 Aaron Graham: G; 6' 4"; Freshman

#24 Liam McInerney: F; 6' 8"; Freshman

#12 Joel Naburgs: G; 6' 3"; Freshman

#41 Adam Pegg: F/C; 6' 9"; Junior

#1 Dennis Diaz: G; 6' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#20 Aaron Graham
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: G

#24 Liam McInerney
: 6' 8"; Freshman
: F

#12 Joel Naburgs
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G

#41 Adam Pegg
: 6' 9"; Junior
: F/C

#1 Dennis Diaz
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: G

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CSU Bombs Way Past Hatters

Players Mentioned

#20 Aaron Graham

#24 Liam McInerney

#12 Joel Naburgs

#41 Adam Pegg

#1 Dennis Diaz

Players Mentioned

#20 Aaron Graham

#24 Liam McInerney

#12 Joel Naburgs

#41 Adam Pegg

#1 Dennis Diaz