Gainesville, Fla. – The Stetson men's basketball team fell to the Florida Gators 85-45 on the road Sunday afternoon. 

Treyton Thompson gave the Hatters an early 3-2 lead with a basket on their first offensive possession. Mehki Ellison and Stefano Alesso also contributed offensively as Stetson worked to prevent Florida from building a significant lead in the opening minutes. Despite their efforts, the Hatters trailed 46-27 at halftime after shooting just 31% (11-35) from the field.

The second half saw Stetson's offense continue to struggle as Florida extended its lead. However, the Hatters' defense showed improvement, forcing the Gators into 13 turnovers, which Stetson converted into eight points. Despite the defensive effort, Florida remained dominant and cruised to the 85-45 victory.

Ellison was the lone Hatter to reach double digits in scoring, finishing with 15 points. Finley Sheridan had a strong performance on the boards, leading the team with six rebounds. Stetson collected 12 offensive rebounds, generating four second-chance points, in addition to the eight points scored off turnovers.

The Hatters will now turn their focus to conference play, beginning the new year with a trip to Charlotte, N.C. to face Queens on Thursday, January 2. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 p.m.