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Mahamadou Diawara
64
NJIT NJIT 6-13,3-3 ASUN
65
Winner Stetson Stet 10-11,4-2 ASUN
NJIT NJIT
6-13,3-3 ASUN
64
Final
65
Stetson Stet
10-11,4-2 ASUN
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
NJIT NJIT 36 28 64
Stetson Stet 25 40 65

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Athletic Communications

Late Rally Leads Hatters to Stunning Victory

DeLAND--Down by 16 with just over 18 minutes to play, and trailing by 11 with less than six minutes to go, Stetson men's basketball staged a furious rally and stunned NJIT, 65-64, in ASUN Conference play on Thursday at Edmunds Center.
 
The Hatters (10-11 overall, 4-2 ASUN) now move into sole possession of third place in the conference standings with the improbable win. The win not only gives Stetson its first three-game winning streak this season, but it also snaps a four-game home losing skid.
 
After trailing 36-25 at halftime, the Hatters watched as NJIT (6-13, 3-3) pushed its lead to 43-27 with 18:18 to go.
 
Stetson used an 18-4 run over the next 7:38 to get within 47-45 on a Christiaan Jones 3-pointer, but NJIT quickly pushed the lead back to double figures with an 11-2 run. A Levar Williams layup gave NJIT a 58-47 edge with 5:53 to go.
 
At that point NJIT had a 94.5-percent win probability, according to ESPN. But nobody told the Hatters.
 
From there, it was all Stetson. Two free throws by Jones and a fast-break three-pointer by Rob Perry made it 56-52.
 
The next 39 seconds changed the game. Jahlil Rawley got a pair of steals and baskets on back-to-back plays, and Perry collected his own steal and drilled an immediate three-pointer to put the Hatters ahead 59-58 with 3:22 to go.
 
NJIT grabbed the lead right back. Zach Cooks hit a jumper and Reilly Walsh sank a pair of free throws for a 62-59 lead, but a steal and layup by Jones, a jumper from Perry and two free throws by Mahamdou Diawara made it 65-62 with 20 seconds to go, all but sealing the game for Stetson.
 
Diawara finished with a game-high 19 points on 7 of 9 shooting from the floor. Perry added 14 and Jones chipped in with 13. Stetson shot 60.5 percent for the game, including 68 percent in the second half.
 
Cooks, the ASUN's leading scorer entering the game at better than 19 points per outing, finished with 16.
 
Quoting Coach Jones
"I'm really proud of these guys, they played with great toughness and grit. Guys really stepped up and made some big shots and big plays when we needed them. We've been in some close games at home and not been able to pull it out, so I'm just really happy to get the win tonight."
 
Game Notes
  • Freshman Mahamadou Diawara reached double figures in points for the 14th time this season
  • Diawara's 19 points are his most since scoring a season-high 22 against Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 3
  • Freshman Terry Ivery tied a career high with 5 assists in 18 minutes
  • Stetson outscored NJIT by 12 in the second half, and limited the Highlanders to 37 percent shooting after halftime
  • Stetson shot over 60 percent for the second time this season. The first time came against UNC Asheville on Dec. 17 (62.2 percent).
  • Thursday's game was the 11th contest for Stetson this season decided by 5 or fewer points. The Hatters are 6-5 in those games, including all four ASUN victories.

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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