Jalen Blackmon scored 26 points and keyed Stetson’s hot-shooting, second-half rally as the Hatters shocked host UCF 85-82 Sunday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.
Stetson (4-2) took a 61-60 lead on Alex Doyle’s 3-pointer with 5:40 remaining and never trailed after that.
However, it was not easy: They made 12 straight free throws down the stretch and finished the game 22-for-24 from the stripe.
The Atlantic Sun Conference school ended a 20-game losing streak against their nearby Central Florida opponent. The Hatters made 13 of 30 shots from behind the arc (43.3 percent) and outscored UCF 55-46 in the second half.
Blackmon made 6 of 9 treys and all six free throws. Stephan Swenson totaled 19 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals before fouling out. Treyton Thompson had 12 points, eight rebounds and four helpers.
Jaylin Sellers netted a career-high 34 points, his fourth time this season with at least 20 points, for the Knights (4-2). Darius Johnson totaled 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while Shemarri Allen tallied 11 points.
The teams combined for 24 points in the game’s wild final minute, but with Stetson locked in at the line, UCF only got to within a single point.
The homestanding Knights started fast, making 7 of 10 from the field and leading 16-6 at 14:06 following a breakaway dunk and a jumper by Sellers.
Stetson went on a 7-0 run to cut it to 21-15 behind five points, layup and a deep ball, from 7-foot Minnesota transfer Thompson.
While careful with the ball early, UCF turned it over seven times in the first half to allow the visitors to get back in the game. The Hatters used the possessions and made it 28-24 on Alec Oglesby’s three-point play with 3:26 remaining.
Blackmon’s deep shot made it a one-point game, but in the final minute Sellers sank two free throws and a layup — giving him 16 points — for a 36-30 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
