Stetson 68, ETSU 56

2/10/2008 4:45 PM

DELAND, Fla. (AP) -Garfield Blair scored a game-high 20 points and Stetson allowed only three points in the last 6:07 minutes in a 68-56 victory over East Tennessee State on Sunday.

Blair, who played just 24 minutes because of foul trouble, scored eight consecutive points in Stetsons 16-3 run that closed the game. He made two free throws that gave the Hatters a 54-53 advantage with 5:05 to play.

That was the 10th and final lead change of the game. Stetson led 60-54 with 2:14 remaining after Blair's 8-0 scoring spurt that included a three-point play and a 3-pointer.

A layup by ETSU's Courtney Pigram made it 60-56 with 1:55 to play, but the Buccaneers could get no closer. Stetson's Kris Thomas answered with a 3-pointer and the Hatters made five of six free throws in the last 1:09 to protect the lead.

Stetson (12-13 overall, 7-4 in Atlantic Sun Conference) also got 10 points and nine rebounds from Eric Diaz, while Sheldon Oliver and A.J. Smith each had nine points.

Pigram and Kevin Tiggs each scored 15 points for ETSU (14-10, 8-3).

Stetson held ETSU to 23 points under its season scoring average. The loss snapped a six-game winning streak by ETSU, which had won nine of its last 11 games.