JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Stetson (12-20, 7-11 ASUN) defeated Eastern Ky. (11-21, 7-11 ASUN) with a commanding 92-76 victory Wednesday night at UNF Arena in the First Round of the ASUN Championship Tournament. The Hatters set the tone early, building a 54-41 halftime lead and never surrendering control in the second half. Stetson capitalized on Eastern Kentucky's turnovers, scored consistently from beyond the arc, and received a major lift from its bench in the postseason win.

Stetson wasted little time establishing momentum. After Eastern Kentucky opened the scoring, Collin Kuhl answered with a tip-in and early free throws to give the Hatters their first lead. Jake Johnson added a jumper before Ethan Copeland connected from three at the 16:53 mark to stretch the lead to five.

Moments later, Calvin Sirmans III came up with a steal and converted a fast-break layup, pushing the advantage to 11-4 and igniting a strong defensive stretch.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the half and Stetson leading 18-11, Copeland buried another three-pointer to push the margin to double digits. Alex Doyle followed with a three at the 10:01 mark to make it 24-13, and the Hatters continued to create separation with sharp ball movement and efficient shooting.

Doyle added another three at 8:04, and Johnson knocked one down at 5:29 to extend the lead to 36-18 — Stetson's largest of the half. Eastern Kentucky trimmed the deficit late, but Copeland converted two technical free throws in the closing seconds to send the Hatters into the locker room with a 54-41 advantage.

Stetson carried that momentum into the second half. Finley Sheridan opened the period with a three-pointer at 18:52, and Copeland followed with another from deep at 17:06 to stretch the lead to 19.

The Hatters continued to build their cushion midway through the half. A Copeland three at 15:46 pushed the advantage to 20, and Sheridan's jumper moments later made it 67-45.

The decisive stretch came just past the 13-minute mark. Doyle knocked down back-to-back three-pointers — including one off an offensive rebound — to balloon the lead to 77-50, the Hatters' largest of the night.

Eastern Kentucky attempted to rally with several late three-pointers, cutting the margin to 19 with just over five minutes remaining. However, Sheridan answered with a jumper at 4:35 to restore a 21-point cushion, and Stetson controlled the final minutes to secure the 92-76 victory.

The Hatters shot 52.5 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from three-point range while forcing 13 turnovers. Five players finished in double figures, highlighting Stetson's balanced offensive attack, and the bench contributed 27 points in the win.

Stetson Top Performers

• Ethan Copeland — 23 points, 5-10 3FG, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
• Alex Doyle — 17 points, 5-7 3FG, 2 assists
• Collin Kuhl — 13 points, 5-6 FT, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
• Jake Johnson — 12 points, 4-4 FT, 6 rebounds, 2 steals

Stetson will face Austin Peay in the ASUN Quarterfinals on Friday, March 6 at 5 p.m. at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville.

Postgame Press Conference


Article partially generated by Fanword.

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.