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Men's Basketball Athletic Communications

Close Calls Leading Hatters During Surprise Season

If you like nerve-wracking, down-to-the-wire basketball, the 2019-20 Stetson Hatters are the team for you.
 
Not only are the Hatters (12-12 overall, 6-3 ASUN) one of the top turnaround stories in college basketball this season, they're also gaining a reputation for close calls, improbable rallies, and lots of nail biting. Stetson has played 13 games this season decided by 5 points or less, and the Hatters have been victorious eight times. That number is tops among all Division I teams.
 
Stetson is already plus-5 in the win column from last year. And after being picked to finish dead last in the ASUN Conference at the start of the season, the Hatters currently find themselves third in the standings, one game behind league co-leaders North Florida and Liberty. An ability to win close games is one of the biggest reasons why.
 
"Each game we go into, we just hope we're going to be hanging around down the stretch," Stetson first-year head coach Donnie Jones said with a chuckle. "Our practices are set up as four-minute games, every day. Always have been since day one. We've learned how to execute in a four-minute span, because you have 10 four-minute opportunities in a game, so that's our mindset.
 
"We try to keep it simple. We have a lot of young guys. It's the first time in college for many of them. We don't want them to over think what we're doing. Our preparation is 95 percent of what we do, and then focus a little bit on what the other team does. For the most part it's the guys having confidence in what we're doing and how we want to do it, and being effective in how we communicate in adverse situations."
 
Oftentimes team can look to the past to predict future results. But the recent past isn't pretty when it comes to winning close games.
 
In the previous four seasons, the Hatters were 9-23 in such games, including 2-5 last season and 0-4 in 2016-17.
 
Perhaps no stretch of games illustrates the brand of close call basketball the Hatters have been playing this season than the final week of January, when the Hatters rallied for a 65-64 win against NJIT, then delivered a stunning upset of league leader Liberty in a 48-43 victory two days later.
 
Against the Highlanders, Stetson trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half before rallying in heart-stopping fashion. The Hatters eventually chipped away and took the lead with just over three minutes to play, but immediately lost the lead on NJIT's next possession, before finally regaining the lead for good in the final minute.
 
The Liberty game demonstrated that the NJIT result wasn't a fluke. Trailing by 11 points at halftime for the second straight game, the Hatters stormed back early in the second half and eventually took control of the contest midway through the half. But the Hatters had to hold on down the stretch as they escaped with a five-point win.
 
Stetson was at it again two games later, this time on the road at Lipscomb. Leading by one at halftime, the Hatters fell behind by five points early in the second half, only to regain the lead briefly before losing it again with less than six minutes to play. But the Hatters closed strong, going on an 11-2 run over the next three minutes to eventually escape with a 55-53 victory.
 
"You do think about it when it's close down the stretch but we just try to keep everybody together and do what we have to do to come out with a win," Stetson junior Christiaan Jones said.
 
The only time Stetson hasn't closed out a close ASUN game this season? Jan. 11 at home against FGCU, a 66-62 overtime loss to the Eagles. Stetson had a 54-51 lead with less than a minute to play in regulation but the Eagles tied it, and got the overtime win. It's Stetson's only conference loss by less than five points.
 
Stetson has its chance to avenge that loss – and pick up another road win in the process – when they visit the Eagles on Thursday at 7 p.m. Is another Cardiac Hats moment be in the offing?
 
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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Players Mentioned

Christiaan Jones

#0 Christiaan Jones

G
6' 5"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Christiaan Jones

#0 Christiaan Jones

6' 5"
Junior
G