DeLand, Fla. – After their victory over Queens on Tuesday night, the Stetson Men's Basketball team will host Jacksonville Thursday, March 8. This will mark the first time in program history that Stetson has hosted the semifinals of the ASUN Championship.
 
In the quarterfinals, Jalen Blackmon was the leading scorer as he put up 21 points. Aubin Gateretse wasn't far behind him as he dominated the paint putting up 20 points and grabbed six rebounds. Stephan Swenson tallied a double-double by scoring 19 points and grabbing a season high 12 rebounds. Tristan Gross rounded out the scoring for the Hatters with 10 points while also grabbing four rebounds. Giancarlo Valdez made two clutch threes for the Hatters to keep Queens from gaining two much momentum before he fouled out in the second half.   
 
Scouting the Hatters (19-12, ASUN 11-5)
Stetson has had a season of milestones as three different players have hit major accomplishments. Senior Swenson joined the 1000 career points club, the 500 assists club and became the All-Time program leader in assists. Blackmon also joined the 1000 career points club in just his second season with the Hatters. Smith was the third Hatter to hit a milestone this season as he joined the 500-rebound club after coming back from injury. 
 
Blackmon led the ASUN in scoring as he amassed 654 points which averaged out to 21.1 points per game. He also led the conference in free throw shooting hitting over 92% from the free throw line. Blackmon finished third in the ASUN in three-point field goal percentage at 39.9% and second in three points per game. In the NCAA rankings, Blackmon was fourth in field goal attempts, tenth in field goals made, sixth in free throw percentage, fifth in total points, thirteen in points per game, fifth in three-point attempts, tied for seventh in three points made per game, and tied for fourth in total three-point field goals made.  
 
Swenson was the floor general for the Hatters as he totaled 407 points averaging out to 13.1 per game. He also tallied 142 rebounds, 187 assists and 48 steals. Swenson led the conference in total assists while finishing second in assists per game with 6.0. He also was fourth in the conference in steals and steals per game in the ASUN. In the NCAA, he ranked seventh in assists, and twentieth in assists per game.
 
Gateretse was a force for the Hatters in the paint this season as he averaged 11.1 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, while adding 44 blocks. He finished with eight double-doubles on the season. Gateretse finished second in the conference in total rebounds, third in rebounds per game and second in blocks per game. 
 
As a team the Hatters average 76.5 points per game while allowing 71.8 per game. They shot 46.1% from the field, 36.3% from three and 76.7% from the free throw line. Stetson averages 35.4 rebounds per game, 13.7 assists, 5.4 steals and 3 blocks per game.
 
Scouting the Dolphins (16-16, ASUN 5-11)
Jacksonville is coming off of back-to-back wins in the ASUN Championship. The defeated Kennesaw State 92-86 in the first round before upsetting the #1 Seed Eastern Kentucky 67-65 in the quarterfinals. Robert McCray V leads the Dolphins in points per game, assists and steals. He averages 17.8 points per game while he has racked up 92 assists and 41 steals. Bryce Workman and Stephon Payne III defend the paint for Jacksonville with them averaging 8.2 and 6.3 rebounds respectively. The Dolphins average 71.4 points while shooting 43.3% from the field, 32.8% from three and 70.3 percent from the charity stripe. 
 
The Hatters will look to advance to the ASUN Championship Finals with a victory over the Dolphins. It will be a tough test as its difficult to beat a team three times in a season.