Men's Basketball March 19, 2021 Athletic Communications

Hatters Set to Begin CBI Play Monday

Stetson men's basketball makes a historic foray into the postseason on Monday when the Hatters face Bowling Green in the opening game of the College Basketball Invitational. Tip-off is set for 11:30 a.m. at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach.

Monday's game will be Stetson's first postseason contest since the Hatters joined Division I prior to the start of the 1971-72 campaign. Stetson's last NCAA postseason appearance was in 1971, when the Hatters played in the NCAA College Division South Atlantic Regional in Norfolk, Va., some 27 years before the current squad's oldest player, Christiaan Jones, was born.

The latest version of the Hatters (11-14) is one of just 92 NCAA teams fortunate enough to earn a postseason berth in this COVID-impacted season. Stetson reached the semifinals of the ASUN Tournament before falling to eventual champion Liberty, 77-64.

Stetson is led by the guard trio of senior Jones, freshman Chase Johnston and sophomore Rob Perry.

Johnston was recently named to the Kyle Macy Freshman All-America Team, and was earlier this month chosen as the ASUN Freshman of the Year. Johnston is averaging 14.1 points and has already set a Stetson record with 78 3-pointers this season.

Perry is Stetson's leading scorer at 14.3 points per game, and has reached double figures 17 times in 25 games.

Jones was named to the ASUN's All-Tournament Team after averaging 19.5 points in Stetson's two tournament games. For the year, Jones is averaging 12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Bowling Green (14-11) finished sixth in the Mid-American Conference with a 10-8 mark. The Falcons are a veteran team, with seniors serving as BGSU's top three scorers. Guard Justin Turner leads the way at 19.3 points per game.

Game Notes
•Stetson is one of eight teams invited to participate in the 2021 College Basketball Invitational, March 22-24 in Daytona Beach, Fla.
•The 2021 CBI field includes Army, Bellarmine, Bowling Green, Bryant, Coastal Carolina, Longwood, Pepperdine and Stetson.
•Senior Christiaan Jones made history by being named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team for the second straight year after averaging 19.5 points in two games. He is the first Hatter to be named all-tournament twice.
•Playing in the CBI gives freshman Chase Johnston an opportunity to add to his Stetson season record of 78 3-pointers. Johnston broke the old record of 76 in the semifinal loss to Liberty.
•Point guard Stephan Swenson needs 4 more assists to become the fifth freshman in Stetson history to reach 100 assists. Angel Rivera (2014-15) holds to program record with 120.

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

#5 Angel Rivera: G; 5' 8"; Senior

#11 Chase Johnston: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman

#0 Christiaan Jones: G; 6' 5"; Senior

#2 Rob Perry: G; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#30 Stephan Swenson: G; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#5 Angel Rivera
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

#11 Chase Johnston
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Freshman
: G

#0 Christiaan Jones
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G

#2 Rob Perry
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: G

#30 Stephan Swenson
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: G

Stetson University Athletics

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Hatters Set to Begin CBI Play Monday

Players Mentioned

#5 Angel Rivera

#11 Chase Johnston

#0 Christiaan Jones

#2 Rob Perry

#30 Stephan Swenson

Players Mentioned

#5 Angel Rivera

#11 Chase Johnston

#0 Christiaan Jones

#2 Rob Perry

#30 Stephan Swenson