JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- The Jacksonville men's basketball team nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback against Stetson on Thursday, but ultimately fell 70-67 in Swisher.
 
The Hatters opened up the game on a 10-2 run behind threes from Luke Brown and Josh Smith. Jacksonville stormed back on a 9-0 run with just over 10 minutes to play to take their first lead of the game. From the 11:34 mark until 4:16 the two sides traded buckets and the lead. Kevion Nolan scored four with Mike Marsh and Osayi Osifo scoring a pair each for eight of JU's nine during that stretch. Blackmon led the way for the Hatters with three points during what was a 9-8 run in that part of the game. The rest of the half saw Stetson outscore the Dolphins eight to three, as the Hatters found themselves up five at the break.
 
Stetson opened the second half in similar fashion as Wheza Panzo splashed in a three and a Mahamadou Diawara dunk forced JU head coach Jordan Mincy to call a timeout. In the next 90 seconds, Nolan scored all five of the Dolphins points to get his side within seven, however Stetson responded with a 13-8 run to lead 47-35 at the midway point of the second half.
 
Until there was 1:12 left in the game, the game seemed to be all Hatters as they continued to build their lead behind an 18-16 run. However, the Dolphins, led by a Jordan Davis scoring flurry, ripped into the lead as in the next 40 seconds, JU outscored Stetson 11-4. At the 30 second mark, Stetson turned the ball over in their own half and suddenly the Dolphins were down 67-62 with just 28 seconds left. Nolan then drained two free throws and the difference was just three points.
 
The Hatters took a foul and drained one out of two free throws and Jordan Davis banked in a circus shot of a three pointer and the game was within one. Stetson again went to the free throw line. Luke Brown sunk both his shots and there was just 1.7 seconds left.
 
A bit of a scramble and a half court heave by Nolan flew just to the left of the rim and the miraculous comeback attempt fell just short by the Dolphins
 
ADDITIONAL NOTES

Jordan Davis had a game and season high 20 points. Davis's big night included shooting 7-9 from the floor and a perfect 3-3 from deep.
Marsh was the games leader in rebounds with eight.
Kevion Nolan recorded double figures in scoring with 18 points.

UP NEXT
The Dolphins return to action Saturday at 4 PM against FGCU. Catch the action live on ESPN+ and 1010XL.