DeLand, Fla. – Mehki Ellison hit a half-court buzzer-beater to lift Stetson to a 67-66 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Thursday night.
 
"Last night's win over Eastern Kentucky was an incredible testament to our team's resilience and composure," said Head Coach Donnie Jones. "Mehki Ellison's game-winning three from behind half court was nothing short of remarkable, capping off a hard-fought battle against a very tough and talented team. We controlled the game until the final seconds, stayed together, and found a way to come out on top. I couldn't be more proud of our guys for their fight and belief in each other."

Josh Massey gave the Hatters the lead on their first offensive possession of the game, draining a three from beyond the arc. Massey followed his shot up with a steal and Abramo Canka finished strong to make it 5-2. Eastern Kentucky quickly regained the lead, but Ellison responded with a floater and an ensuing free throw to knot the game at 8. The teams exchanged leads, with the score tied again at 10 and 12 before Stetson took control. The Hatters sparked an 11-0 run, highlighted by Blaize Sagna's five points, to surge ahead 23-12. With their defense stifling the Colonels—holding them scoreless for over six minutes—Stetson pushed their lead to 12. The Hatters lead slowly crept down to single digits, but Jordan Wood stepped up with five consecutive points, including a clutch three-pointer off an offensive rebound, to extend the lead back to 10. Stetson went into halftime with a 37-28 lead, with Wood leading the way, contributing 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal.
 
The Hatters held onto a double-digit lead for most of the second half, but with six minutes to go, Eastern Kentucky rallied to tie the game at 62. Jamie Phillips Jr. answered with a strong finish at the rim, putting Stetson back on top, 64-62. However, the Colonels responded, tying it again at 64 and then grabbing a 66-64 lead with just under four seconds remaining.
 
In the final moments, Ellison inbounded the ball to Massey, who quickly passed it back to him. Ellison dribbled three times, pump-faked, and then launched a half-court shot that swished through the net as time expired, securing the 67-66 win for the Hatters.
Ellison led Stetson with 15 points and also recorded a team-high 4 assists. Canka added 12 points, while Wood and Massey chipped in 11 apiece. Canka and Treyton Thompson each grabbed a team-high 6 rebounds with Canka adding 2 steals.

The Hatters now head to Bellarmine for their next matchup on Saturday, January 25, at 3:00 p.m.