Lohuis scores 21 as Stetson beats North Florida 73-56

2/28/2008 11:03 PM

DELAND, Fla. (AP) - Mark Lohuis had career-high 21 points and nine rebounds to lead Stetson to a 73-56 Atlantic Sun Conference victory over North Florida on Thursday.

Stetson also got 19 points and seven boards from Garfield Blair. The Hatters (15-15, 10-5 ASC) began the game with a 14-0 run and never trailed.

North Florida (3-25, 1-14) had gotten within a point four times in the second half, and with 4:56 to play, two free throws by Tom Hammonds got the Ospreys within two points, 54-52.

But a 3-pointer by Lohuis off a kickout pass from Blair, who had five assists, started a 14-2 run with 4:37 to play that put the game away. Lohuis also made four free throws during the stretch that was capped by a Kris Thomas dunk with 1:44 remaining.

Stetson had missed 10 free throws before converting on 12 of its last 13 shots from the foul line in the last 2:22.

North Florida's Stan Januska scored 14 of the Ospreys' 22 points in the first half and led his team with 19 points. Cortez Riley had 11 points and James Grimball added 10 for North Florida, which had won two of its last four games.