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Jahlil Rawley
62
Stetson STET 16-17
66
Winner Liberty LIB 29-4
Stetson STET
16-17
62
Final
66
Liberty LIB
29-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Stetson STET 25 37 62
Liberty LIB 22 44 66

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Athletic Communications

Hatters Edged in ASUN Semifinals

LYNCHBURG, Va.--Stetson's Christiaan Jones led three Hatters in double figures with 15 points, but Stetson was unable to hang on to a halftime lead as top-seeded Liberty escaped the ASUN Conference Tournament semifinals with a 66-62 win, Thursday at Vines Center.
 
The fourth-seeded Hatters (16-17) held a 25-22 lead at halftime after an outstanding defensive display by both teams in the first half. Things opened up a bit in the second half, however.
 
Liberty (29-4) became more aggressive offensively as the Flames eventually regained the lead when Elijah Cuffee's layup made it a 29-28 game with 16:19 to go.
 
The Flames eventually pushed the lead to 10 points at 40-30 as Cuffee capped a 13-2 run with a jumper in the paint at the 11:17 mark.
 
It was at that point Stetson began to fight back behind Jones. After a pair of Kenny Aninye free throws cut the Liberty lead to 40-32, Jones scored nine straight points for the Hatters, twice connecting for three-point plays. The last one put the Hatters within 45-41 with 8:10 to go.
 
Liberty had trouble shaking the Hatters, but Stetson couldn't get over the hump, either. Every time the Flames made a basket, it seemed Stetson answered back.
 
After more than five minutes of exchanging baskets and free throws, the Hatters made a move. Jones made two more free throws to get Stetson within 56-51 and after a stop on the other end, Rob Perry converted a layup to make it 56-53 with 1:55 left.
 
A Perry three-pointer pulled the Hatters within 58-56 at the 1:12 mark, but that was as close as the Hatters would get, as Liberty went 8 for 8 from the free throw line in the final 44 seconds to seal the win.
 
Jones scored his 15 points on just six shots. The junior guard was 4 of 6 from the field with a three-pointer and was perfect on all six of his free throws, adding a team-high 7 rebounds to his stat line. Senior Jahlil Rawley scored 14 points, while freshman Mahamdou Diawara finished with 11.
 
Caleb Homesley led Liberty with 26 points.
 
Game Notes
  • The Hatters were 10 of 13 from the free throw line on Thursday, and were 35 of 39 (.897) from the stripe in two ASUN Tournament games
  • Both teams shot over 50 percent in the second half (52.2 for Stetson, 54.2 for Liberty)
  • Liberty will host Lipscomb in the ASUN Championship game, 3 p.m., Sunday
  • Jones scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half. He also had 3 assists and a block for the game.
  • Stetson was gunning for its fourth ASUN Finals appearance. The Hatters last reached the finals in 2016.
 
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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