Hatters return home to host Bellarmine

DeLand, Fla. -- For the first time, the Stetson University men's basketball team gets set to host Bellarmine University at the Edmunds Center on Thursday, Jan. 27. Tip-off is set for 7:30 and will be streamed on ESPN+.

Recap
Stetson's men's basketball team comes off a 67-65 win over ASUN West Division opponent North Alabama back on Jan. 22. After the Lions overcame an eight-point deficit with 1:00 left in regulation, Christiaan Jones traveled the length of the floor, caught a lob pass from Stephan Swenson and hit the lay-up at the buzzer to give the Hatters the win and end their three-game losing streak.

Jones finished with 16 points while Swenson and freshman Alvin Tumblin recorded double figures for the second game in a row as each finished with 12 points apiece. Swenson also tallied eight dimes on the night, as he surpassed the 200 career assists threshold.

Scouting the Knights
Bellarmine enters play on Thursday with an 11-9 overall record and is 5-1 in ASUN Conference action. The Knights come off their first conference loss of the year as BU fell 65-60 to Jacksonville State on Monday. Prior to Monday's loss, the Knights had won five games in a row.

The Knight's sport a well-rounded and aggressive offense as BU is led by senior guard Dylan Penn. Penn's 17.6 points per game is good for third most in the ASUN while BU's C.J. Fleming follows Penn as the graduate student from Cincinnati puts up an average of 12.5 per game. Penn also leads the Knights in assists per game with 5.1 while Juston Betz pounds the glass for the Knights, pulling down 7.0 boards per game.

All-Time Series
Thursday's game will be the fourth time that Stetson and Bellarmine have met. BU transitioned from NCAA Division II to Division I before the 2020-21 season as last season was the first meeting between the two schools. BU took 2-of-3 from Stetson last season as the Knights got the best of the Hatters both times in the regular season. The seven-seeded Hatters then upset the second-seeded Knights in the quarterfinals of the 2021 ASUN Championship. The Hatters look to even the all-time series at 2-2 on Thursday night.

Scouting the Hatters
Stetson enters Thursday's game with an 8-11 overall record and is 2-4 in ASUN Conference action. The Hatters look to go above .500 at home as Stetson sits at a 5-5 record at the Edmunds Center.

Jones and Chase Johnston have been two of the Hatters biggest offensive catalysts all year long. Jones, a Columbia, S.C. native has put up double figures in his last 10 games played while Johnston has recorded double figures in nine of his last 10. Swenson and Tumblin have provided much needed offense in the Hatters starting lineup as each have scored double figures in two straight games while also hitting new career highs in points. In last Tuesday's overtime loss to FGCU, Swenson put up 16 while Tumblin tallied 22.

Looking Ahead
After Thursday's bout with the Knights, Stetson has a quick turnaround as the Hatters host Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Edmunds Center. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Chase Johnston: G; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#0 Christiaan Jones: G; 6' 5"; Graduate Student

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

#35 Alvin Tumblin: F/C; 6' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Chase Johnston
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: G

#0 Christiaan Jones
: 6' 5"; Graduate Student
: G

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

#35 Alvin Tumblin
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: F/C

Stetson University Athletics

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Hatters return home to host Bellarmine

Players Mentioned

#11 Chase Johnston

#0 Christiaan Jones

#30 Stephan Swenson

#35 Alvin Tumblin

Players Mentioned

#11 Chase Johnston

#0 Christiaan Jones

#30 Stephan Swenson

#35 Alvin Tumblin