DELAND, Fla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and squandered opportunities, the Stetson Hatters held off a late surge from the Howard Bison to secure a 64-60 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball matchup on Wednesday night at Edmunds Center.

Despite a game-high 26 points from Howard’s Bryce Harris, the Bison could not overcome a poor shooting performance and a significant disparity at the free-throw line. The Hatters, who led for the majority of the contest, built a 10-point halftime advantage and withstood a frantic final minute to even their season record at 2-3. Howard fell to an identical 2-3.

The first half set the tone for the defensive struggle. Stetson capitalized on Howard’s early offensive woes, jumping out to an 11-3 lead behind three-pointers from Jamie Phillips and Alex Doyle. The Bison struggled to find any rhythm, committing multiple shot-clock violations and shooting just 21 points in the opening period. Stetson took a 31-21 lead into the break.

Howard emerged from halftime with renewed energy, chipping away at the deficit throughout the second half. A three-pointer from Alex Cotton and a driving layup from Jeremiah Johnson brought the Bison within a single possession on multiple occasions. Harris, who played 38 minutes, was the catalyst for the comeback attempt, scoring on aggressive drives to the basket.

However, every time Howard threatened, Stetson had an answer, primarily at the charity stripe. The Hatters attempted 28 free throws, converting 21, while Howard went to the line just 16 times, making 12. In the final two minutes, Stetson’s Calvin Sirmans and Sean Morgan combined to make three crucial free throws to keep the Bison at bay.

With 12 seconds remaining and Stetson leading 62-60, Cotton hit a deep three-pointer to seemingly bring Howard within one, but a foul was called on the floor before the shot, wiping the basket off the board. On the ensuing inbounds play, Howard forced a turnover, giving themselves a final chance to tie or take the lead, but Harris’s contested three-point attempt in the waning seconds missed its mark. Morgan secured the victory for Stetson by sinking two free throws with less than a second on the clock.

Beyond Harris’s 26-point effort, Howard received 11 points from Alex Cotton and nine from Jeremiah Johnson. The Bison’s defense was active, forcing 15 Stetson turnovers and recording 12 steals, but they were ultimately undone by their own offensive inefficiency. Howard shot just 32.8 percent from the floor and 26.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Stetson’s victory was a collective effort. Collin Kuhl led the Hatters with 14 points, while Jamie Phillips added 13. Calvin Sirmans, despite scoring only seven points, orchestrated the offense with six assists and was instrumental in handling Howard’s pressure defense down the stretch. The Hatters were more efficient from the field, shooting 40 percent, and dominated the glass defensively, limiting Howard’s second-chance opportunities despite the Bison grabbing 12 offensive rebounds.

Both teams now look ahead to multi-team events this weekend. Howard travels to Durham, North Carolina, to face Niagara on Saturday and Duke on Sunday. Stetson remains at home to host Virginia Military Institute on Saturday.