Box Score ORLANDO - The Hatters came from behind to stun the University of Central Florida Knights 85-82 in Orlando on Sunday evening. In a remarkable turnaround, Stetson found themselves trailing for the majority of the game, only to seize control with a 61-60 lead – marking the second time they led throughout the match. As the second half began to wind down, Hatters hit 14 consecutive field goals to hold off the Knights, effectively putting an end their 20-game losing skid to UCF.
 
Stetson faced a sluggish start in the early stages of the game,, struggling to get in an offensive rhythm. Despite falling into a double-digit deficit, the Hatters showcased resilience, grinding through the remainder of the half. Alec Oglesby's impressive up-and-under reverse layup, coupled with a drawn foul, narrowed the gap to four. Stephan Swenson then forced a steal before finding Jalen Blackmon for a transition three to cut it to one. As the opening half came to an end, the Hatters found themselves trailing 30-36.

The second half saw a fiery start for the Hatters, with Blackmon igniting the momentum by sinking a pivotal 3-point jumper, propelling Stetson to a 40-38 lead, their first if the game. However, the lead quickly slipped away, and the Hatters found themselves trailing by nine with just under eleven minutes remaining in the game. That's when the three balls started to rain down.

Blackmon and Alex Doyle let it fly from beyond the arc, trimming the deficit back down to three. The relentless grind continued, and Tristan Gross stepped up, tying the game at 58 with a crucial three-pointer. Following a UCF dunk, Doyle struck again from beyond the arc, reclaiming the lead for the Hatters. From that point, the Hatters would not relinquish that lead over the last 5:40 of the game.

Thompson would hit an and one layup finishing through the contact while adding the made free throw on top of it. Swenson, with only his second three of the season, confidently sank a shot from a foot in front of the UCF center court logo, extending the lead to four. Gross would then push the lead to six with another three. Oglesby would foul out with 1:48 left in the game leading Coach Donnie Jones to rely on the freshmen Doyle, and Gross even more.

The Knights would go on a parade to the charity stripe closing the Hatters lead to 70-69. Every inbound pass for Stetson was put into the hands of Swenson to keep the Knights from trapping. Blackmon delivered a defining moment for the Hatters, sinking a dagger 3-pointer with 45 seconds left, expanding the lead to four and intensifying the pressure on the Knights.

UCF responded with a bucket, but each time the Hatters hit their free throws. After hitting their shots from the line, both Swenson and Gateretse would commit a foul that forced them out of the game. This meant that Coach Jones had to dig deeper into his bench, bringing on Giancarlo Valdez to be the main ball-handler. Stetson would secure the win after hitting 14 consecutive free throws in the clutch to hold off the Knights by a final score of 85-82.

This win broke the Hatters 20 game losing streak, dating back to January 2001. The Hatter victory also marked the first time that Coach Jones defeated the institution that he previously coached at. 
 
Blackmon was money for the Hatters as he totaled 26 points including going six of nine from three and a perfect six of six from the line. Swenson fell just short of a double-double while registering 19 points and nine assists. Treyton Thompson tallied a career-high 12 points while securing a team-high eight rebounds. 
 
As a team, Stetson shot 47.2% from the field, 43.3% from three and 91.7% from the line. In the second half, Stetson hit nine threes, sparking the comeback. Another spark during the comeback was the Hatters ability to limit their turnovers while creating timely steals and creating transition opportunities on the offensive end. 
 
The Hatters will look to continue their winning ways as they host the College of Coastal Georgia on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Tip off for that game will be at 7pm in the historic Edmunds Center. 
 
 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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