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Mahamadou Diawara
67
Bethune-Cookman BCU 5-4,0-0 MEAC
72
Winner Stetson Stet 5-5,0-0 ASUN
Bethune-Cookman BCU
5-4,0-0 MEAC
67
Final
72
Stetson Stet
5-5,0-0 ASUN
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Bethune-Cookman BCU 26 41 67
Stetson Stet 33 39 72

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Athletic Communications

Diawara, Hatters Hold Off Bethune-Cookman

DeLAND--Stetson's Mahamadou Diawara scored eight of his game-high 22 points in the final 2:22 to help the Hatters hang on for a 72-67 win over Bethune-Cookman, Tuesday at Edmunds Center.
 
With Stetson (5-5) clinging to a 61-60 lead, Diawara put the Hatters on his back. After giving Stetson a 63-60 lead with just over two minutes to play, Diawara followed with a thunderous slam in traffic for a 65-60 advantage with 1:43 to go.
 
The 6-foot-10 freshman added a pair of free throws on Stetson's next possession for a 67-60 lead, and sank two more from the line in the final 13 seconds to seal the win.
 
In all, Diawara was 7 of 12 from the field and 7 of 10 from the free throw line. He added 10 rebounds for his third straight double-double.
 
Stetson led for all but one minute and 43 seconds, including a 33-26 advantage at halftime.
 
Diawara didn't do it alone for the Hatters. Junior Christiaan Jones enjoyed one of his best games of the year with 16 points and 6 rebounds, and freshman Joel Kabimba provided 9 points and 3 boards in 12 minutes off the bench.
 
Malik Maitland led Bethune (5-4) with 16 points.
 
Turning Point
While the Hatters maintained a lead for pretty much the entire game, the Wildcats were making a charge in the final minutes of the second half. Bethune-Cookman was in the midst of a 7-1 run, having cut Stetson's lead to 61-60, when senior forward Cletrell Pope – Bethune-Cookman's leading scorer and the nation's leader in rebounds per game (13.4) – was whistled for his fifth foul with 3:06 to play. From that point forward, Mahamadou Diawara took over the game for Stetson and the Hatters went 7 of 10 from the free throw line in the final 57 seconds to seal the win.
 
Big Mo
Over the last three games Stetson freshman Mahamadou Diawara has been on a tear, averaging 19 points and 10.7 rebounds per game while shooting 59 percent from the field. He recorded his third straight double-double on Tuesday (22 pts & 10 rebs), becoming the first Hatter to accomplish that feat since Brian Pegg had five straight double dips in February of 2016. For the season, Diawara is averaging 14 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
 
Game Notes
  • Stetson head coach Donnie Jones is now 7-0 all-time against Bethune-Cookman
  • Christiaan Jones finished with 16 points, his second-straight double-digit scoring affair. It was also his 30th career game in double figures.
  • Freshman Joel Kabimba set a new career-high with 9 points in 12 minutes
  • Stetson limited the Wildcats to just 27.8% shooting from three-point range for the game
  • The Hatters limited Bethune-Cookman's Cletrell Pope to 7 points and 10 rebounds, well below his pregame averages of 14.5 points and 13.4 rebounds.
 
Up Next
The Hatters return to the road when they visit VMI, 1 p.m., Saturday.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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