GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Stetson men's basketball battled preseason No. 1 Florida throughout the first half of Tuesday night's exhibition, heading into the break trailing the Gators by just two points, 42-40. The Hatters continued to compete after halftime, but Florida pulled away in the second half to secure an 85-68 victory.
The Hatters showed their offensive potential early, answering Florida's opening three-pointer with a triple from
Collin Kuhl.
Thiago Sucatzky made an impact in the paint, while
Sean Morgan connected from beyond the arc off a Sucatzky assist to give Stetson a 12-10 lead with 14:02 remaining in the first half.
Florida responded with transition baskets and second-chance opportunities to build an 18-12 advantage, but the Hatters continued to find ways to stay within reach.
Roman Miller scored off an offensive rebound and converted a free throw to bring Stetson within three at 18-15.
After Florida extended its lead to 32-24 with 6:17 remaining, Stetson put together another strong stretch. Sucatzky scored on a layup before
Makhi Myles added a jumper.
Alex Doyle followed with a three-pointer, and Sucatzky returned to the paint for another basket to cut the deficit to 35-33.
Doyle connected from beyond the arc again with 51 seconds remaining, capitalizing on an offensive rebound and an assist from Morgan. The Hatters continued their late-half push, as Sucatzky's jumper with five seconds left brought Stetson within two at the break. Stetson shot 16-for-34 from the field in the first half, recorded 16 points in the paint and received 14 points from its bench.
Stetson carried its perimeter shooting into the second half, knocking down three-pointers from Doyle and
Magnus Entenmann during a stretch that kept the Hatters within striking distance at 59-51 with 13:52 remaining. Sucatzky also turned a steal into a fast-break layup, while Miller recorded another steal to help create additional opportunities.
Kuhl continued to contribute offensively, scoring baskets at 11:09, 9:34 and 8:01.
Daniel Macgregor added three free throws before assisting
Jean-Ernest Boyomo Keedi on a dunk with 3:59 remaining. Despite the Hatters' efforts to stay within reach, Florida shot 18-for-30 from the field after halftime to pull away for the final 85-68 margin.
The Hatters finished 26-for-65 from the field and 9-for-25 from three-point range, while receiving 28 points from their bench. Stetson also recorded 12 assists and nine steals.
Hatters Top Performers
- Thiago Sucatzky: 18 points, 8-for-13 from the field, six assists and zero turnovers.
- Alex Doyle: 18 points, 6-for-9 from three-point range and three rebounds.
- Collin Kuhl: 14 points, seven rebounds and five offensive rebounds.
Up Next
The Hatters open the 2026-27 regular season on Monday, Nov. 2, traveling to Clemson for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
