DELAND, Fla. — Stetson men's basketball improved to 6-10 overall and 2-1 in ASUN play with a 91–83 victory over Lipscomb on Thursday night at the Edmunds Center. The Hatters used defensive pressure to force Lipscomb off the three-point line and had four players score in double figures.
"It was a team effort and I though the team had a great week in practice," said Head Coach
Donnie Jones. "JP had a great game tonight; he's our leader and he showed you his toughness tonight. I thought our guys were ready. When you have a young group and a group that's new and you get these kinds of wins, these are character wins. Now we just need to stack them."
Stetson came out sharp on both ends to open the game, pairing efficient shooting with active defense.
Jamie Phillips Jr. powered the early momentum, scoring from all three levels as the Hatters built separation in the first half. Phillips Jr. finished with a career-high 30 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, and added a career-best six assists. After Lipscomb briefly answered inside, Stetson responded with a surge fueled by transition opportunities and perimeter shooting. An
Ethan Copeland three and a pair of fast-break finishes pushed the Hatters into a double-digit lead midway through the half.
The Hatters continued to pressure defensively, turning stops into offense.
Finley Sheridan capitalized on second-chance points in the paint, while
Daniel Macgregor finished through contact to keep Stetson in rhythm. As the half wound down, Lipscomb attempted to cut into the margin, but Phillips Jr. closed the period in emphatic fashion, drilling a buzzer-beating three-pointer to send the Hatters into the locker room with a commanding 46–28 lead.
Lipscomb came out aggressively in the second half and briefly trimmed the deficit, but Stetson answered with poise. Copeland opened a response with a driving layup, followed by free throws from
Jake Johnson. Phillips Jr. then connected from beyond the arc once again, igniting another run that restored breathing room for the Hatters.
The Bisons mounted a late push behind aggressive scoring in the final minutes, but the Hatters answered with timely stops and clutch free throws.
Calvin Sirmans III and Macgregor sealed the win at the line as Stetson closed out the contest to secure the 91–83 victory.
After the game, Phillips discussed the team's strategy, noting, "The game plan was to just play our game on offense, make sure we attack them, drive them off the three-point line, try to get them in foul trouble like we did." He attributed his confidence to his dedication, saying, "I'm just in the gym every night here at 9 o'clock just working." He also highlighted the team's preparation, explaining, "We shoot free throws every day, we have to make 6 in a row, 7 in a row 8 in a row. We also run through every game scenario. We rep it out because the coaching staff just gets us prepared for the game." Looking ahead, he mentioned, "Celebrate it tonight like we did in the locker room, and just move on to the next, watch film and get ready for the next team."
Stetson Top Performers
Stetson returns to action at home on Saturday, Jan. 10, hosting Austin Peay at 2 p.m. at Insight Credit Union Arena at Edmunds Center.
