DELAND, Fla.- The Jacksonville men's basketball team fell to the Stetson Hatters 71-55 to end the first week of Atlantic Sun Conference play.
 
The Dolphins (9-7, 0-2) trailed by three at the half but were unable to complete the second-half comeback in DeLand. The first half saw stats that were almost identical in every category, but Stetson had more luck getting its shots to fall and a few additional free throws to complement much of the half. While Stetson was up seven with a minute to play, Marcus Niblack made a tough turnaround jumper to cut the deficit to five before JU's defense put the clamps on the Hatters with 30 seconds to play. After freshman Donovan Rivers forced a missed shot on the defensive end of the court, Gyasi Powell sunk a two-point turnaround jumper at the buzzer from the corner, and the Dolphins went into the half down 27-24.
 
Niblack and Powell led the Dolphins in scoring in the first half with 10 and eight points, respectively. Stetson's scoring leaders were Abuin Gateretse and Stephan Swenson, who combined for 15 points in the half. Both sides hit an identical 10 shots in the half, with JU having the slight edge in rebounds at 16-13.
 
Stetson started hot in the second half, and the momentum carried throughout the rest of the game. As the half wore on, the Hatters got hot from deep to extend what was a three-point lead at half. While JU held the fourth-best scoring player in the country, Jalen Blackmon, to just six points (down from his average of 24), Alec Oglesby and Swenson combined for 38 to carry the Hatters in this game. The Dolphins had three players score in double figures in Niblack, Powell, and Stephon Payne III. Niblack and Payne finished with 12, while Powell added 10. For Niblack, it was his 10th game this season scoring in double figures, while for Payne and Powell, it was their fifth each.
 
UP NEXT
The Dolphins will return to action next Friday in the 42^nd ever River City Rumble against North Florida. The game is on the campus of North Florida, and tipoff is set for 7 PM. The game can be streamed on ESPN+ or listened to on 1010XL.