(Kennesaw, Ga.) – The Hatters wrapped up the regular season with a 72-67 defeat at Kennesaw State Saturday afternoon.  The Hatters finish the regular season at 11-19 overall and 6-12 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.  They next play in the A-Sun Tournament beginning Thursday. 

Nine consecutive points from Garfield Blair followed by a J.J. Hirst three-pointer brought Stetson within 65-59 with 2:20 to play.  That was as close as the Hatters would get.

“In the second half I though we played well,” head coach Derek Waugh said.  “The two things we needed to do were rebound, and we out-rebounded them by 13, and not turn the ball over, and we had only 12 turnovers.  Unfortunately we just didn’t get the big baskets or the big stops.”

KSU’s Jonathan Whipple threw down an alley-oop dunk on a pass from Owls senior Golden Ingle to put Kennesaw State (13-18, 9-9) ahead 45-28 with 15:42 to play.  That nipped a 5-0 Stetson run in the bud and carried the Owls to a Senior Day victory. 

Ingle finished with 18 points to end his college career.  Shuan Stegall put in 15 and Ronell Wooten added 12 points and nine rebounds.  Blair reached double digits for a team-high 24th time with 18 and with his 13 rebounds recorded his first career double-double.  A.J. Smith continued his recent scoring surge with 14 and Kris Thomas added 12. 

“I thought this was the best game Garfield’s played this year,” Waugh said.  “And A.J. Smith has been phenomenal.  With the energy and positivity he brings us, he has a bright future.”

The first 10 minutes of the first half saw four lead changes and two ties. Kennesaw State held Stetson scoreless for over the next four minutes and went on a 7-0 run to build a 20-13 lead.  Six different Owls scored at least four points in the first half and the team closed the half on a 9-3 spurt to take a 34-20 lead at the break.

“The story of the tail end of the regular season is we have not been very good on the road,” Waugh said.

Stetson begins their run in the A-Sun Tournament March 1.  The tournament is hosted by East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn. and runs through Sunday.