Matt Grahoben Coaching Career

[grahoben]

January 26, 2018

Jacksonville (8-13, 3-5) 59
Stetson (11-10, 6-2) 76

After so many close games in conference play, it was nice for the Hatters to have a rather easy win. Stetson took a 13-0 lead to start the game, and never looked back as they cruised to victory against Jacksonville. Erik Henry had possibly his best game of the season, recording his first career double double.

Notable Performances:
Erik Henry 3-5 FG, 10 Points, 10 Rebounds, 4 Assists
Terrence Adams 7-11 FG, 20 Points, 3 Rebounds
Shawn Bradford 5-12 FG, 16 Points, 5 Rebounds
John Grays 2-2 FG, 8 Points, 3 Rebounds, 1 Assist

Atlantic Sun Scores

NJIT (6-2) 80
Florida Gulf Coast (5-3) 74

USC Upstate (6-2) 53
North Florida (2-6) 52

Lipscomb (1-7) 65
Kennesaw State (3-5) 81

[grahoben]

January 30, 2018

Stetson (12-10, 7-2) 55
Lipscomb (7-15, 1-8) 47

When you're playing for a conference championship, it is important to take care of business against the bottom of the league, and that is exactly what Stetson did as they beat the 1-7 Lipscomb Bisons. Unfortunately, NJIT and USC Upstate each won their games, meaning there is still a three way tie for first place in the Atlantic Sun with 5 games to play.

Notable Performances:
Erik Henry 3-8 FG, 12 Points, 2 Rebounds, 3 Assists
Tyrus Hathaway 2-3 FG, 5 Points, 9 Rebounds
Terrence Adams 2-4 FG, 5 Points, 7 Rebounds, 2 Assists

Atlantic Sun Scores

North Florida (2-7) 50
NJIT (7-2) 62

Florida Gulf Coast (5-4) 65
Jacksonville (4-5) 77

Kennesaw State (3-6) 59
USC Upstate (7-2) 65

[grahoben]

February 2, 2018

USC Upstate (13-11, 7-3) 66
Stetson (13-10, 8-2) 84

After losing against USC Upstate on their first try earlier this year, Stetson certainly wanted revenge, and they certainly got it. The first half was close, but the Hatters dominated the second half with 47 points. Center Shawn Bradford had one of his best games in a long time, scoring a game high 19 points. Stetson now travels to NJIT with a chance to maintain sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Sun.

Notable Performances:
Shawn Bradford 9-17 FG, 19 Points, 4 Rebounds, 2 Assists
Ward Chapman 6-7 FG, 14 Points, 4 Rebounds, 2 Assists
Erik Henry 2-3 FG, 9 Points, 3 Rebounds, 3 Assists
Terrence Adams 5-6 FG, 13 Points, 1 Rebound, 2 Assists

Atlantic Sun Scores

Lipscomb (1-9) 52
Jacksonville (5-5) 54

NJIT (7-3) 52
Kennesaw State (4-6) 57

North Florida (2-8) 62
Florida Gulf Coast (6-4) 81

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February 6, 2018

Stetson (14-10, 9-2) 93
NJIT (15-9, 7-4) 83

Stetson handed NJIT its first home loss of the season, as the Hatters defeated the Highlanders 93-83. Stetson faced an early 22-12 deficit, but the Hatters quickly went on a run to take the lead. Four Hatters scored in double figures, as a strong effort from the whole team was needed to pick up the big win.

Notable Performances:
Terrence Adams 6-13 FG, 19 Points, 8 Rebounds, 4 Assists
Shawn Bradford 5-10 FG, 19 Points, 3 Rebounds, 3 Assists
Erik Henry 6-10 FG, 18 Points, 2 Rebounds, 4 Assists
Tyrus Hathaway 2-3 FG, 11 Points, 5 Rebounds

Atlantic Sun Scores

Jacksonville (5-6) 57
USC Upstate (8-3) 59

Kennesaw State (4-7) 62
North Florida (3-8) 66

Florida Gulf Coast (6-5) 44
Lipscomb (2-9) 58

[grahoben]

February 9, 2018

North Florida (5-20, 3-9) 66
Stetson (15-10, 10-2) 71

Stetson didn't play its best game, but it was more than enough to extend their winning streak against North Florida. The Hatters passed the ball very well against the Ospreys, recording 21 assists on 24 field goals.

Notable Performances:
Jason Willis 5-10 FG, 13 Points, 6 Assists, 4 Steals
Erik Henry 3-10 FG, 11 Points, 1 Rebound, 3 Assists
Marque Mason 4-6 FG, 11 Points, 3 Rebounds, 1 Assist
Chad Medley 3-9 FG, 9 Points, 4 Assists

Atlantic Sun Scores

USC Upstate (9-3) 81
Lipscomb (2-10) 62

Florida Gulf Coast (6-6) 66
Kennesaw State (5-7) 70

NJIT (7-5) 70
Jacksonville (6-6) 83

[grahoben]

February 13, 2018

Stetson (15-11, 10-3) 59
Kennesaw State (9-17, 6-7) 64

Stetson's winning streak finally came to an end, as they couldn't get past the Kennesaw State Owls on the road. Luckilly, USC Upstate lost their game to Florida Gulf Coast, meaning that if Stetson can beat FGCU, they will be Atlantic Sun regular season champions.

Notable Performances:
Tyrus Hathaway 5-7 FG, 14 Points, 11 Rebounds, 1 Assist
Shawn Bradford 4-10 FG, 12 Points, 4 Rebounds, 2 Assists
Terrence Adams 4-7 FG, 9 Points, 4 Rebounds, 2 Assists

Atlantic Sun Scores

USC Upstate (9-4) 61
Florida Gulf Coast (7-6) 84

Lipscomb (2-11) 45
NJIT (8-5) 52

Jacksonville (7-6) 67
North Florida (3-10) 64

[grahoben]

February 16, 2018

Florida Gulf Coast (12-15, 7-7) 52
Stetson (16-11, 11-3) 70

Coming off a 9-19 season and returning just two starters, Stetson had no reason to expect much success this season. Especially when you include the fact that their new coach had no head coaching experience. But none of that prevented the Hatters from completing their best regular season in school history. Coach Matt Grahoben cut down the final link to the net as Stetson won its first regular season conference championship in school history. The Hatters now have the #1 seed in the A-Sun conference tournament, and will need to win three more games to advance to its first NCAA tournament.

Notable Performances:
Erik Henry 8-14 FG, 22 Points, 5 Rebounds, 3 Assists
Shawn Bradford 5-10 FG, 13 Points, 4 Rebounds, 2 Assists
Donte Hightower 3-3 FG, 8 Points, 2 Rebounds, 1 Assist

Atlantic Sun Scores

North Florida (3-11) 41
Lipscomb (3-11) 48

NJIT (8-6) 65
USC Upstate (10-4) 83

Kennesaw State (6-8) 59
Jacksonville (8-6) 76

Final Atlantic Sun Standings:

1. Stetson 11-3
2. USC Upstate 10-4
3. NJIT 8-6
4. Jacksonville 8-6
5. Florida Gulf Coast 7-7
6. Kennesaw State 6-8
7. North Florida 3-11
8. Lipscomb 3-11

[grahoben]

March 1, 2018

#1 Stetson 73
#8 Lipscomb 58

For the third time this season, Stetson defeated the Lipscomb Bisons, and this was certainly the most important as it came in the A-Sun Tournament. Each of the other three Atlantic Sun games were upsets, meaning the Hatters could possibly have an easier path to victory for the remainder of the tournament.

Notable Performances:
Ward Chapman 10-12 FG, 20 Points, 6 Rebounds, 1 Assist
Terrence Adams 4-10 FG, 14 Points, 2 Rebounds, 1 Assist
Shawn Bradford 4-8 FG, 13 Points, 2 Rebounds, 2 Assists

A-Sun Tournament Quarterfinals

#5 Florida Gulf Coast 65
#4 Jacksonville 47

#7 North Florida 78
#2 USC Upstate 68

#6 Kennesaw State 70
#3 NJIT 69

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March 3, 2018

#5 Florida Gulf Coast 80
#1 Stetson 74

Stetson's dream of reaching the NCAA Tournament ended against Florida Gulf Coast, as the Eagles shot an incredible 9-13 from three point land on their way to the conference final. The Hatters led most of the game, but a run by FGCU gave them a double digit lead that was too much to overcome.

Notable Performances:
Erik Henry 6-8 FG, 16 Points, 4 Assists
Jason Willis 5-13 Points, 16 Points, 6 Rebounds, 3 Assists
Terrence Adams 5-8 FG, 13 Points, 4 Rebounds, 3 Assists
Shawn Bradford 2-5 FG, 12 Points

A-Sun Semifinal

#6 Kennesaw State 73
#7 North Florida 54

A-Sun Championship

#5 Florida Gulf Coast 60
#6 Kennesaw State 63

Apparently regular season conference champions don't get automatic NIT bids in this game

[grahoben]

2018 NCAA Tournament:

East
1st Round:
#1 Michigan State over #16 Charleston
#8 Texas over #9 Michigan
#5 Arizona over #12 Troy
#4 Temple over #13 Long Island
#2 Kentucky over #15 McNeese State
#10 Boise State over #7 Texas Tech
#11 Rutgers over #6 UCLA
#3 Florida over #14 Denver

Second Round:
#1 Michigan State over #8 Texas
#4 Temple over #5 Arizona
#2 Kentucky over #10 Boise State
#3 Florida over #11 Rutgers

Sweet 16:
#4 Temple over #1 Michigan State
#3 Florida over #2 Kentucky

Elite 8:
#3 Florida over #4 Temple

Midwest
First Round:
#1 Louisville over #16 Morgan State
#8 Florida State over #9 Duquesne
#12 TCU over #5 Xavier
#4 Kansas over #13 Texas A&M CC
#2 Duke over #15 UC Irvine
#7 Virginia over #10 Ole Miss
#6 Charlotte over #11 California
#3 Georgetown over #14 New Mexico State

Second Round:
#8 Florida State over #1 Louisville
#4 Kansas over #12 TCU
#2 Duke over #7 Virginia
#6 Charlotte over #3 Georgetown

Sweet 16:
#8 Florida State over #4 Kansas
#2 Duke over #6 Charlotte

Elite 8:
#2 Duke over #8 Florida State

South
First Round:
#1 Stanford over #16 Maine
#8 Oregon State over #9 UNLV
#5 Wichita State over #12 St. Mary's
#4 Colorado over #13 Penn
#2 North Carolina State over #15 Tennessee-Martin
#7 North Carolina over #10 Memphis
#6 Miami (OH) over #11 Sacremento State
#3 Boston College over #14 Montana

Second Round:
#1 Stanford over #8 Oregon State
#5 Wichita State over #4 Colorado
#7 North Carolina over #2 North Carolina State
#6 Miami (OH) over #3 Boston College

Sweet 16:
#5 Wichita State over #1 Stanford
#6 Miami (OH) over #7 North Carolina

Elite 8:
#5 Wichita State over #6 Miami (OH)

West:
First Round:
#1 UConn over #16 Florida Gulf Coast
#9 Creighton over #8 Texas A&M
#12 BYU over #5 Maryland
#4 Western Carolina over #13 Valparaiso
#2 Arkansas over #15 Army
#10 Saint Louis over #7 Oregon
#11 Georgia over #6 New Mexico
#3 Purdue over #14 Alcorn State

Second Round:
#1 UConn over #9 Creighton
#4 Western Carolina over #12 BYU
#10 Saint Louis over #2 Arkansas
#11 Georgia over #3 Purdue

Sweet 16:
#1 UConn over #4 Western Carolina
#10 Saint Louis over #11 Georgia

Elite 8:
#10 Saint Louis over #1 UConn

Final Four:
#3 Florida over #2 Duke
#5 Wichita State over #10 Saint Louis

Finals:
#3 Florida over #5 Wichita State