DELAND, Fla. – In the 101st meeting between Stetson and Jacksonville, the Dolphins prevailed 74-65.
Jacksonville (14-9, 8-3) was without the services of Robert McCray V who was down with an illness but found plenty of success behind the big body of Kendall Munson.
Munson tallied a career-high 23 points, smashing his previous career high of 16 points set against Queens. The senior forward set career highs in shot attempts (16) and makes (10) while also snagging seven rebounds.
In the first half alone, Munson had 14 points to lead all scorers.
"First of all, I give credit to my teammates and (head coach Jordan) Mincy for making the play calls to put me in this position," Munson said. "I was in attack mode. All the credit to my teammates for finding me. I try to take things one second at a time and not think about (records) and just go hard as I can go."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Without McCray, Jacksonville turned to freshman Chris Arias in the starting lineup. Munson also got the start over fellow forward Zimi Nwokeji.
That duo proved fruitful was the pair combined for 34 points and nine rebounds. Arias hit a trio of deep balls to lead the Dolphins. Arias also played a career-high 33 minutes.
Munson gave Jacksonville its first lead, 6-4, before he hit another basket to score the team's first eight points. Arias then hit the first of his deep balls.
Jacksonville pushed its lead to 10 points in the first half after Zach Bell hit his lone triple of the night. Bell finished with nine points on 4-7 shooting. A Jakari Spence jumper gave Jacksonville a 12-point lead going into half, 35-23.
Stetson's 23 points scored in the first half was tied for its lowest output in ASUN play.
The second half was much of the same for the 'Phins as JU handed Stetson its largest deficit, down 15 points, for the first 10 minutes of action. Munson came out of half and looped in a layup to tie his career-high in scoring before throwing down a two-handed slam to set his new scoring record.
"We just knew going into the game we were the bigger and stronger team," Munson said. "Just going up and being more physical at the rim was what we worked on all week at practice."
Munson was by no means alone in the offensive effort.
Payne posted his fifth double-double of the season with a 14-point, 12 rebound showing. Spence finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. For the second time this season, Spence tied his career-high in rebounds with nine.
Tito Deng finished with two points off the bench and Kent Jackson connected on one triple to finish with three points.
The win maintains Jacksonville's undefeated ASUN record on the road at 5-0. It also snaps Jacksonville's two-game losing streak and the school's five game losing streak to Stetson.
After Thursday's slate of games, the Dolphins are tied for first in the ASUN standings.
"This feels amazing. So good," Munson said of the win. "Now, we just have to keep it going."
GAME NOTES
- Head coach Jordan Mincy moved to eighth all-time in wins at JU with 64.
- Arias set a career-high in steals with three.
- Arias tied his carer-high in field goal attempts at nine.
- Jackson set career highs in rebounds (3) and minutes played (23).
- The Dolphins held the Hatters to only 36.8% shooting from the field while shooting 44.4% as a team.
- Jacksonville never trailed in the second half on its way to victory.
- Jacksonville recorded 16 total assists in the game.
- JU won the rebounding battle, 45-35. Jacksonville is 12-3 all season when winning the rebounding battle and 8-1 in ASUN play.
- The Jacksonville defense forced 13 turnovers.
- The Dolphins cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 16 offensive boards in the game.
NEXT UP
Jacksonville returns home this Saturday to host Bellarmine at 7 p.m. Jacksonville won the first meeting this season between the two schools 74-59. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ following the conclusion of JU women's basketball's game against North Alabama which tips at 2 p.m.
