DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Kentwan Smith scored 18 of his team-high 20 points in the second half as Stetson extended its winning streak to three games by rallying for a 77-72 win over Bethune-Cookman, Tuesday at Moore Gym.
The Hatters (8-15) won despite trailing 13-2 to start the game and 42-36 at halftime. This is Stetson's first win at Moore Gym since 1993.
“This is a great atmosphere and guys sometimes can get intimidated by it,” said Stetson head coach Corey Williams about the Hatters' slow start. “I thought we started off a little nervous. I had to remind the guys to go out and play. We were able to, somehow, as the game progressed get our feet under us and play Hatter basketball.”
Smith took over the game for the Hatters in the second half. He finished 8-of-16 from the field for the game, but was 7-for-10 in the second half, and made four of his five free throw attempts. Smith added 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the year.
“For some reason, Kentwan was too fired up early and it cost him a little bit,” said Williams. “Once he settled down he got into the flow of the game he started being the Kentwan we know he can be.”
Stetson won, in part, on the strength of its free throw shooting. The Hatters were 22-of 26 from the line against the Wildcats (7-16) and are shooting 82 percent from the line in their last three games.
Down six at the start of the second half, the Hatters slowly chipped away. After falling behind 50-42 with 15:35 to go, the Hatters went on a 12-0 run and took a 54-50 lead on a Smith dunk with 9:41 to play.
Stetson pushed the lead to 62-55 with 6:34 to play, but the Wildcats scored seven straight points to knot the game at 62 all, before the Hatters regained control. A jumper by Divine Myles and a pair of free throw by Grant Lozoya made it 66-62 with 3:37 to go, and Stetson maintained the lead the rest of the way.
Brian Pegg supported Smith with 16 points, while Lozoya chipped in with 14. Glasford enjoyed his best offensive game in weeks with nine points. He also added three assists and three steals.
B-CU's Ricky Johnson scored a game-high 28 points, but had scored only eight in the second half and was just 1-for-14 from the field in the game's final 20 minutes.
The Hatters shot 50 percent (26-52) for the game, the third time in the last five outings Stetson has been at 50 percent or better. While the Hatters were edged on the glass, 37-33, Stetson dominated the paint to the tune of a 43-28 advantage.
Stetson limited the Wildcats to 41 percent shooting, including 30 percent in the second half.
The Hatters next host Atlantic Sun Conference co-leader FGCU, 3:30 p.m., Saturday at Edmunds Center.
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