DeLand, Fla. – The Stetson Men's Basketball upset the conference leading Eastern Kentucky Colonels, Saturday evening, 87-79. Josh Smith and Aubin Gateretse tallied double-doubles and Jalen Blackmon and Smith combined for 51 points to power the Hatters to the victory.
 
"We did a great job rebounding tonight," stated Head Coach Donnie Jones. "Josh Smith was outstanding along with Aubin. Jalen Blackmon got into foul trouble, came back, and sparked us to finish a big win against a very talented team."
 
Alec Oglesby started the scoring for the game hitting a pull up jumper giving the Hatters a 2-0 lead. Gateretse hit a layup to put the Hatters up four and he then answered an Eastern Kentucky three with another layup to make it 6-3. The Colonels took the lead away from Stetson before the score was tied back up on another Oglesby jumper. The teams battled back and forth trading the lead between them. Stetson was able to pull away from Eastern Kentucky with a 9-0 run. Treyton Thompson started off the run with a putback dunk. Blackmon continued the run with a step back jumper. Smith and Oglesby added on in the run with three made free throws. Smith then finished the run with a layup putting the Hatters up 28-19. Stetson continued to extend on the run make it a 16-4 run and building up a 12-point lead. The Colonels were able to cut down the Hatters lead a few points, but Stetson went into halftime up 40-32.
 
Blackmon started the scoring in the second half draining a shot from beyond the arc to put the Hatters back up by double digits. Eastern Kentucky then broke off a 14-2 run taking the lead back. On Stetson's next possession Blackmon hit his second three of the half, to give the Hatters the lead back, making it 48-46. The Colonels retook the lead and built a five-point lead, but Stetson come roaring back to tie the game at 53 with a layup from Swenson and then Blackmon's third three of the half. Eastern Kentucky wasn't going to go away though as they build another five-point lead. Smith hit a pull up jumper in the paint, drew a foul and hit his free throw. Blackmon then found nothing but net from beyond the arc to give the Hatters a 59-58 lead. The two teams continued trading the lead with until the game was tied up at 70. The Hatters pulled away on an 9-2 run with four points from Smith, three from Blackmon and two from Gateretse. That had the Hatters up 79-72 with one minute left in the game. Blackmon drew the take foul and hit both of his free throws making it 81-72. Eastern Kentucky hit a quick three making it 81-75 with 49 seconds left. This time Stephan Swenson drew the take foul and hit both free throws putting the Hatters up by eight. The Hatter defense was able to force a miss and Blackmon drew another take foul, hitting both from the line. Stetson was up 85-75 and the lead was cut to eight with 11 seconds left. The Colonels made it a six-point game with seven seconds left but the Hatters were able to inbound the ball to Blackmon, who drew the foul. He hit both from the line securing an 87-79 win for Stetson.
 
Blackmon led the game in scoring with 27 points while also grabbing two rebounds and picking up an assist. Smith followed close behind him putting up 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Gateretse led the team in rebounds with 12 while also adding 12 points giving him seven double doubles this season. He also had the team lead in assists with five, blocks with three and tied for the team lead in steals with two. 
 
Stetson shot 43.3% from the field, 36.8% from three and went 22-23 from the free throw line. They out rebounded Eastern Kentucky 38-29, doubling up the Colonels in offensive rebounds. Those offensive rebounds led to 22 second chance points for the Hatters.
 
Stetson will now have a week off before hosting Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2pm.