KENNESAW, Ga.--Stetson freshmen Rob Perry and Mahamadou Diawara combined for 31 points and 13 rebounds as Stetson held off Kennesaw State, 57-54, in ASUN Conference play on Saturday at the KSU Convocation Center.
 
With the win, Stetson (7-10, 1-1) matches its total from last season. It's the first conference win for first-year head coach Donnie Jones.
 
Stetson led, 53-42, with 2:30 to play after a fastbreak dunk by Joel Kabimba, but Kennesaw State (1-14, 0-2) outscored the Hatters 12-4 in the final minutes to keep it close.
 
Perry and Wheza Panzo each made free throws in the final nine seconds to help seal the win.
 
Stetson led, 25-21, at halftime and maintained the lead for all but 18 seconds of the second half.
 
The Hatters finally broke open a tight game with less than eight minutes to play. Leading 40-39, Stetson got a pair of free throws from Diawara and consecutive layups from Jahlil Rawley and Joel Kabimba for a 46-39 lead with 5:45 left.
 
The lead eventually swelled to as many as 11 points after Perry (3), Christiaan Jones, Kabimba and Rawley combined for nine straight points to take a 55-42 lead.
 
Stetson shot 58 percent in the second half while limiting KSU to 40 percent for the half. The Owls managed to stay in the game by going 8 of 21 from 3-point range.
 
Diawara was 5 of 7 from the field and grabbed 9 rebound to finish just one shy of his fifth double-double. Perry was 3 of 5 from deep and added 4 rebounds.
 
Kennesaw State's Ugo Obineke scored 19 points.
 
The Hatters next host FGCU, 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, at Edmunds Center.
 
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.