#2 Sharks Roll Past STAC at SCB Hall of Fame Classic

LAKELAND, Fla. – All five starters for the second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks scored in double-digits, while Dallas Graziani broke his own single-game program record by recording 17 assists and narrowly missed a triple-double (17 points/17 assists/9 steals), as the Sharks rolled the St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans 116-81 on Sunday evening during the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic.

Graziani also set the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic tournament record for assists (17) and steals in a game (9). The Sharks now hold the top two scoring performances in a single game during the tournament, scoring 122 versus Gannon and 116 against STAC on Sunday.

NSU tied its record for field goals made in a single game (47) in both games during the tournament. Additionally, the Sharks now hold the record for most points scored during the SCB Hall of Fame Classic (238), total field goals made (94), total field goals attempted (163), rebounds (83), and assists (59).

Breakdown
Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 2-0 | St. Thomas Aquinas 0-2
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 116 | St. Thomas Aquinas 81
Location: George W. Jenkins Field House | Lakeland, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball

How it Happened
First Half – The Sharks were able to open the game with an 8-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game, as Tyler Eberhart, MJ Iraldi, and Ross Reeves all got involved on the scoreboard. A three-point bucket by Ryan Davis, followed by a fast-break lay-up by Dallas Graziani extended the NSU advantage to 17-10. NSU found their groove and capitalized on a pair of Spartans turnovers with both Eberhart and Ryker Cisarik finishing off buckets to extend the lead to 30-19 midway through the first half. With under seven minutes remaining in the first half, a steal from Graziani set up a three-pointer from Eberhart as the Sharks took a 41-28 lead. NSU closed the half on a 5-0 run, heading into the break leading 58-44.

MJ Iraldi (12 points), Tyler Eberhart (12), Ryker Cisarik (12), and Ross Reeves (11) all scored in double digits for the Sharks, while Dallas Graziani tallied nine assists. NSU shot 62% from the field in the opening half.

Second Half – The Sharks continued to roll following halftime and quickly extended their lead to 20-points with a 13-4 run to begin the second half. Graziani contributed on six consecutive points for NSU, pushing the lead to 79-61 with 12 minutes remaining. NSU surpassed the 100-point mark with over five minutes left in the game, as a pair of free throws by Graziani put Nova Southeastern ahead 101-70. Eli Allen, Alex Mangold, Tommy Sala, and Alex Sessoms all contributed points down the stretch for NSU, closing out the 116-81 victory.

NSU outscored STAC 25-10 off of turnovers, 74-48 in the paint, and 24-2 in transition. The Sharks held the lead for 39:33 seconds in the game, going wire-to-wire for the victory.

Shark Standouts
Dallas Graziani: 17 points, 17 assists (single game program record), nine steals (second most in a single game in program history)
MJ Iraldi: 23 points, 10-15 FG
Ross Reeves: 21 points, 8-12 FG, seven rebounds
Ryker Cisarik: 18 points, 7-10 FG, seven rebounds
Tyler Eberhart: 12 points, 5-8 FG, six rebounds

Quotes
Head Coach Jim Crutchfield – “It’s unusual for us to play back-to-back days against teams that play a similar style of basketball that we do. It resembled practice a lot, transition basketball and a lot of points on the board. Overall, it was a great two days. We saw really good basketball from some of the top teams around the country here at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic.”

What's Next
No. 2 Nova Southeastern will travel to Montevallo, AL., to take on the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers for the SSC-GSC Crossover on Friday, November 8th, at the Central State Bank Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_MBasketball
 

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#2 Sharks Cruise Past #7 Gannon at SCB Hall of Fame Classic

LAKELAND, Fla. – In a game that featured two programs that advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight less than eight months ago, the second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team began their 2024-25 campaign with a dominant 122-99 victory over seventh-ranked Gannon at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, hosted by Florida Southern, on Saturday afternoon. Three Sharks filled the stat-sheet, recording double-doubles, as MJ Iraldi (32 points, 10 rebounds, 12-22 FG), Ryker Cisarik (17 points, 11 rebounds 6-10 FG) and Dallas Graziani – in his return to the Nova Southeastern program – (18 points, 13 assists, 8-10 FG). Additionally, Ross Reeves – making his NSU debut – matched Iraldi with 32 points and finished one three-pointer shy of tying the program record for threes in a game, going 8-16 from beyond the arc.

Nova Southeastern improves to 3-0 all-time at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic (last appearance came in 2022)
Head Coach Jim Crutchfield is 7-0 in season opening games since taking over the NSU Men’s Basketball program

Breakdown
Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 1-0 | No. 7 Gannon 0-1
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 122 | No. 7 Gannon 99
Location: George W. Jenkins Field House | Lakeland, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball

How it Happened
First Half -Three-point buckets from Tyler Eberhart and Ryan Davis put the score at 9-8 in favor of Gannon three minutes into the game. Less than seven minutes into the game, the Sharks found themselves in unfamiliar territory, trailing by double-digits as the score was 22-12 following two consecutive three-pointers from Gannon. Dallas Graziani took over for the Sharks, scoring six consecutive points, and led NSU on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to just two points. A dunk and three-pointer from MJ Iraldi gave the Sharks a 30-26 lead with under nine minutes to play in the first half. Ross Reeves drilled back-to-back three-pointers and extended the Nova Southeastern advantage to 38-31. NSU opened up a double-digit lead of its own following an and-one by Iraldi, putting the Sharks ahead 51-39 with less than two minutes remaining in the half. NSU went into the half leading 55-45.

Second Half – Gannon was able to cut the Sharks lead to 58-54 early in the second half but a jumper from Graziani, followed by a fastbreak three-pointer from Reeves – which was set up by an Eberhart steal – put NSU ahead 63-54. The Sharks and Golden Knights traded buckets back-and-forth, but another three-pointer from Reeves put NSU in front 80-66. Midway through the second half, Reeves continued his hot shooting as the Sharks opened up a 20-point advantage, leading 92-72. Iraldi scored 11 consecutive points for Nova Southeastern, extending the NSU lead to 107-82. The Sharks maintained a 20-point advantage for the remainder of the contest, opening the season with a dominant, 122-99 victory. 

Shark Standouts
MJ Iraldi: 32 points, 10 rebounds, 3-4 3PM (second double-double at NSU; career-high in points)
Ross Reeves: 32 points, 8-16 3PM
Ryker Cisarik: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 6-11 FG
Dallas Graziani: 18 points, 13 assists, 8-10 FG
 

  • The 64 points from Ross Reeves and MJ Iraldi are the most scored by a Sharks duo in a single game since RJ Sunahara and Sekou Sylla combined for 61 versus Florida Southern on March 3, 2022.
  • The Sharks set the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic record for points in a game (122) and field goals made (47).
  • Ross Reeves ended the game by recording the second most three-pointers in a game in NSU Men’s Basketball program history and SCB Hall of Fame Classic tournament history.
  • Dallas Graziani is now tied for the second most assists in a single game during the SCB Hall of Fame Classic.

What's Next
No. 2 Nova Southeastern returns continues play at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic on Sunday, November 3rd, taking on (RV) St. Thomas Aquinas College at the George W. Jenkins Fieldhouse. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_MBasketball.

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Welcome Home. Dallas Graziani’s return to the #2 NSU Men’s Basketball program

An integral part of the first NCAA National Championship in program history during the 2022-23 season, Dallas Graziani made his return home to South Florida and back to the Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball program after spending a year away at Samford University (AL.) after transferring from NSU.  

Graziani, a local player from Pembroke Pines, committed to the NSU Men’s Basketball program before the 2019-20 season and was drawn to the Sharks program because of the ability to play in front of his family and friends, while also being a part of a system he could flourish in under Head Coach Jim Crutchfield. “The system suits me; up-tempo, needing to make decisions quickly and playing freely.” said Graziani. “Also, being local gave me the opportunity to have my family at all my games and be home, it’s an awesome situation for me.” 

Crutchfield’s “system” of full-court press defense, focusing on creating havoc with turnovers and a fast-paced offense fits Graziani’s playstyle perfectly. “Sometimes there is a good match between a program’s style of play and a player’s skill set and mindset,” said Crutchfield. “That is certainly the case with Shark Basketball and Dallas Graziani.” 

In addition to Coach Crutchfield, the NSU Men’s Basketball coaching staff includes two of the most accomplished players in program history. Nick Smith, a former point guard who is top-10 all-time in eight statistical categories begins his third season as a coach, while RJ Sunahara, the most decorated player in program history and the 2022-23 National Player of the Year, as well as Bevo Francis award winner, begins his coaching career.  

Graziani’s intensity and passion for the game of basketball is apparent whenever anyone comes to watch the Sharks, whether at the Rick Case Arena or on the road. “I’ve always been this way. Up in your face, pressure defense and picking opponents up in the full court. Everyone associated with Nova (Southeastern) basketball loves the pressure defense, but the other teams absolutely hate it.” 

Graziani’s first season on campus was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, in the three seasons since returning to competition, Nova Southeastern has established itself as a basketball powerhouse in NCAA Division II. Since the 2021-22 season, the Sharks have gone 99-4, winning three consecutive Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament titles, advanced to the NCAA DII Elite Eight in three straight seasons, and won the 2022-23 NCAA DII National Championship with a 36-0 record – just the sixth undefeated national title season in division II history.  

Additionally, NSU set the NCAA Division II record with 62 consecutive regular season victories, spanning from November 13, 2021, through December 30, 2023, while also having won 64 straight games at the Rick Case Arena since February 26, 2020. “Whenever the Rick Case Arena is packed, it really creates a great environment for us and the fans. We’re an easy team to root for and it’s fun to watch and be a part of Sharks Basketball.” 

In his first stint at Nova Southeastern, Graziani wasted no time making his mark on the program as he set the single-game record for steals with 10 against Florida National on November 13, 2021. Unfortunately for Graziani and the Sharks, his first season at NSU was cut short due to a season-ending injury he suffered just eight games into the year. Nova Southeastern finished the 2021-22 campaign with a 31-1 record, becoming the first team to finish the regular season with an undefeated record in Sunshine State Conference play and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second time in program history. 

The following season, Graziani was one of two Sharks to start all 36 games, helping the Sharks win the Sunshine State Conference for the second consecutive season and the NCAA Division II National Championship for the first time in program history. Graziani recorded the second most assists (241) in a season in program history – which also ranked second nationally – trailing only former Sharks Men’s Basketball standout and current Assistant Coach, Nick Smith‘s record (247), which was set the season before.  

Following winning the national title, Graziani was one of four Sharks – Jonathan Pierre (Memphis), Kobe Rodgers (Charleston), and RJ Sunahara (Georgia) – to transfer out of the program to move to the Division I level, as the NSU program was heavily impacted by the transfer portal. “We were all looking to find the best option for us to help us pursue our goals of playing professionally and reaching the highest level of basketball. It was a difficult decision, Samford played a similar style of basketball, and I felt it would be a good fit for me.” 

Graziani started all 35 games for Head Coach Bucky McMillan’s Samford Bulldogs, where he shot 49% from the field and finished the season ranked second on the team with 51 steals. Samford won the Soutern Conference regular season title and the tournament championship for the first time in program history. Samford set a program record with 29 wins and advanced to the NCAA National Tournament for the first time since 2000.  

Now back at Nova Southeastern, Dallas is looking to pick up where he and the Sharks left off. “I experienced Sharks Basketball for three years and I love it here. NSU is powerhouse program; I love coach Crutchfield, I love the players in the program, I love being home and being a part of the system here, especially as the point guard to where I can contribute and play in a familiar environment.” 

The focus remains the same for the Sharks and Graziani with the 2024-25 season looming, with winning as a team and continuing the run of dominance that Shark fans and those around the program have grown accustomed to. No. 2 Nova Southeastern begins the season at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, hosted by Florida Southern, against No. 7 Gannon on Saturday, November 2nd, in Lakeland, Fla. First serve is set for 3:30 p.m. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_MBasketball. 

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Sharks Picked to Win Sunshine State Conference

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference announced the 2024-25 Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Wednesday afternoon, the three-time defending Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament champion Nova Southeastern Men’s Basketball team were tabbed as the preseason favorites to win the league for the fifth consecutive year.  

In the last three seasons, under the direction of Head Coach Jim Crutchfield, the Sharks have accumulated a record of 99-4, 58-2 in Sunshine State Conference play and have won 64 consecutive games at the Rick Case Arena dating back to February 26, 2020.  

Nova Southeastern has been selected as the preseason favorite in each season since 2019-20 but shared the title with Florida Southern before the 2023-24 season. NSU registered 98 points in the poll, earning eight first-place votes. The Sharks finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 32-3, 18-2 SSC record, winning the Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament crowns, as well as winning the NCAA South Region Tournament for the third straight season. The Sharks advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship game for the second consecutive season, ending the year as national finalists.  

Sunshine State Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Rank School Points
(First Place Votes)
1. Nova Southeastern 98 (8)
2. Florida Southern 93 (3)
3.  Embry-Riddle 74
4. Palm Beach Atlantic 70
5. Barry 68
6. Tampa 51
7. Rollins 40
8. Florida Tech 38
9. Lynn 33
10. Eckerd 26
11. Saint Leo 14

Nova Southeastern begins the 2024-25 season at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic on Saturday, November 2nd, in Lakeland, Fla. The Sharks take on Gannon (PA.) at 3 p.m. To purchase your season tickets for Sharks Basketball, visit this link.  

To stay up-to-date on Sharks Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MBasketball.  

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Sharks Announce 2024-25 Schedule

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team, under the direction of Head Coach Jim Crutchfield, has announced the 2024-25 schedule. The upcoming campaign features six out of conference opponents that advanced to the NCAA National Tournament.  

Over the last three seasons, Nova Southeastern Men’s Basketball has accumulated a record of 99-4, winning three consecutive Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament titles, three consecutive NCAA South Region tournaments, and the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship.  

“The Sunshine State Conference being ranked as the top conference in NCAA Division II and our non-conference schedule containing ranked teams from five different regions, this is by far the toughest and most challenging schedule I have faced in my coaching career,” stated Crutchfield.  

The Sharks begin the 2024 season at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Lakeland, against Gannon University on Saturday, November 2nd before playing St. Thomas Aquinas College on Sunday, November 3rd. Both programs that NSU plays during the SCB Hall of Fame Classic qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2024, with Gannon advancing to the Elite Eight following the most impressive single season turnaround in Division II history with former Sharks Assistant Coach Jordan Fee running the program.  

In the following weekend, Nova Southeastern travels to Montevallo, Ala., to take on the Montevallo Falcons (11/8) and the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers (11/9). NSU hosts Walsh (OH.) on November 15th at the Rick Case Arena in the 2024-25 home opener before playing Florida National on November 20th.  

Sunshine State Conference action begins on November 23rd, with the Sharks hitting the road to take on Rollins. Following a 10-day hiatus, NSU returns to action against the Lynn Fighthing Knights on December 4th. Nova Southeastern plays four consecutive home games, first against the University of Fort Lauderdale (12/9), then Barry for a Sunshine State Conference contest on December 14th. NSU closes the 2024 calendar against their fifth opponent that qualified for the NCAA Tournament, playing Emmanuel (GA.) on December 19th.  

The remainder of the schedule is a full conference slate, as NSU returns to the court on New Years Day to take on Tampa. Following that contest, Nova Southeastern plays both Eckerd (1 / 4) and Palm Beach Atlantic (1/8) on the road before the Sharks are home for a pair of SSC games against Saint Leo (1/11) and Florida Southern (1/15). NSU wraps up January with three more conference games against Florida Tech (1/18), Embry-Riddle (1/22), and Lynn (1/29). 

The final nine games of the regular season include conference contests against Barry (2/1), Tampa (2/5), Eckerd (2/8), Palm Beach (2/12), Saint Leo (2/15), Florida Southern (2/19), Florida Tech (2/22), Embry Riddle (2/26), before closing the regular season against Rollins on March 1st.  

The Sunshine State Conference tournament begins on Tuesday, March 4th, with the quarterfinal game. The NCAA South Region Tournament, which the Sharks have hosted for three consecutive years, starts on March 15th and the Division II Elite Eight will be held in Evansville, Ind., at the Ford Center beginning on March 25th. Season tickets go on sale tomorrow, October 1st at 2pm. Use this link to access your combo men’s and women’s basketball season ticket.

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#2 Sharks Earn 20th Win of Season

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team continues to hit their stride as the regular season winds down, earning their eighth consecutive win – 20th on the season – and defeated the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish 115-96 on Saturday evening in Sunshine State Conference action. MJ Iraldi led the Sharks, scoring 21 points (7-12 FG), grabbed eight rebounds and recorded three steals in the victory, Mike Moore (15 points), Trey Doomes (15), Ryan Walsh (12) and GianFranco Grafals (11) all contributed double-digit points off the bench for the Sharks.

Breakdown
Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 20-2, 14-2 SSC | Palm Beach Atlantic 15-10, 9-8 SSC
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 115 | Palm Beach Atlantic 96
Location: Rubin Arena | West Palm Beach, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball

How it Happened
First Half – Palm Beach Atlantic opened the game on a 7-0 run, but the Sharks were took their first lead of the contest following a trio of made threes from Ryan Walsh and Mike Moore, giving NSU a 22-17 advantage. Both the Sharks and Sailfish traded buckets back-and-forth before MJ Iraldi broke the tie with a three-pointer of his own. Isaiah Fuller hit a pair of threes, giving the Sharks a ten-point advantage – 48-38 – with less than five minutes remaining in the half. Trey Doomes scored the final four points of the half for the Sharks, sending the game into the break with NSU leading 59-46 over PBA. 

Second Half – Nova Southeastern continued to extend the lead in the early moments of the first half, as Moore knocked down a pair of free throws to give NSU a 71-52 lead. Grafals gave the Sharks a 20-point lead, making a dunk on the fast-break off an assist from Doomes. Midway through the second half, Nova Southeastern continued to hold a large advantage over PBA, as Doomes hit a pair of free throws and put the score at 88-67. Fuller put NSU at 100-points with just under six minutes remaining in the game. NSU sealed their eighth consecutive win, and 20th of the 2023-24 season, defeating Palm Beach Atlantic 115-96. 

Shark Standouts
MJ Iraldi: 21 points, 7-12 FG, eight rebounds, three steals
Mike Moore: 15 points, 5-6 FG. 3-4 3P
Trey Doomes: 15 points, three steals, 5-6 FG

Sunshine State Conference Standings

1. No. 2 Nova Southeastern 14-2
2.  Florida Southern 13-4
3.  Embry-Riddle 10-6
4.  Lynn 9-7
5. Palm Beach Atlantic 9-8
6. Florida Tech 8-8
7.  Barry 7-9
8. Eckerd 7-9

What's Next
No. 2 Nova Southeastern returns to the Shark Tank to host the Barry Buccaneers on Wednesday, February 21st, for Sunshine State Conference action. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

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Sharks Stay at No. 2 in NABC Rankings

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – For the second consecutive week, the Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team maintains their spot as second in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll. The second-ranked Sharks, currently riding a seven-game winning streak, are 19-2 on the season and hold a 13-2 record in Sunshine State Conference play. Full NABC rankings here.

No. 2 Nova Southeastern has five league games remaining on the 2023-24 season – at Palm Beach Atlantic (2/17), versus Barry (2/21), versus Florida Southern (2/24), at Tampa (2/28), and versus Saint Leo (3/2). The Sharks currently own a two-game lead in the Sunshine State Conference standings over Florida Southern (11-4). 

Sunshine State Conference Standings

Place School Record
1 No. 2 Nova Southeastern 13-2
2.  Florida Southern 11-4
3. Palm Beach Atlantic 9-6
T4. Lynn 8-6
T4. Embry-Riddle 8-6
6. Eckerd 7-8
T7. Florida Tech 6-8
T.7 Barry 6-8
9. Rollins 5-10
10. Saint Leo 4-10
11. Tampa 3-12

Shane Hunter has led NSU on both ends of the floor throughout the campaign. The senior leads Nova Southeastern in points-per-game (16.1), rebounds-per-game (6.7), and is shooting 57.5% from the floor. Hunter also ranks third in the league with 37 blocks (1.7 per-game).  

No. 2 Nova Southeastern returns to action on Saturday, February 17th, taking on Palm Beach Atlantic at the Rubin Arena. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. 

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#2 Sharks Comeback to Beat Eagles in SSC Play

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team won their seventh consecutive game, defeating the Embry-Riddle Eagles 99-81 on Saturday evening from the ICI Center. 

Breakdown

Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 19-2, 13-2 SSC | Embry-Riddle 14-8, 8-6 SSC
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 99 | Embry-Riddle 81
Location: ICI Center | Daytona Beach, Fla. 
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball

How it Happened

First Half – Both the Sharks and Eagles battled back-and-forth for the opening minutes, as the Sunshine State Conference rivals traded buckets. Embry-Riddle went on a 7-0 run, taking a 12-6 lead over NSU. After the midway point of the first half, Embry-Riddle held a 31-20 lead over NSU but the Sharks continued to comeback into the contest, as a Mike Moore three-point bucket put the score at 39-37 in favor of the Eagles. With just over a minute left in the first half, Trey Doomes hit a pair of free throws to give NSU a 47-46 advantage. The Sharks went into halftime with a 51-48 lead over Embry-Riddle. 

Second Half – Early in the second half, MJ Iraldi scored five consecutive points for Nova Southeastern, giving NSU a 58-50 lead. The Sharks momentum continued, and following a steal, Doomes threw down a dunk and put Nova Southeastern in front 64-54. The Eagles cut their deficit to just four points, but back-to-back buckets from Iraldi held Embry-Riddle at bay and put the score at 68-60. Isaiah Fuller, off an assist from Shane Hunter, finished a lay-up and put the Sharks in front 74-67 with just over ten minutes remaining. Nova Southeastern put the game out of reach following a 15-0 run, spanning nearly four minutes of game time, as Hunter, Iraldi, Doomes, GianFranco Grafals, Eli Allen, Ryker and Cisarik all contributed. The Sharks closed out the 99-81 victory over the Eagles. 

Shark Standouts

MJ Iraldi: 19 points, 8-14 FG, seven rebounds
Shane Hunter: 18 points, 7-14 FG, eight rebounds 

What's Next

No. 2 Nova Southeastern will be back in action on Saturday, February 17th, taking on the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish at the Rubin Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 4 p.m. To stay up to date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_MBasketball. 

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#2 NSU Holds off Florida Tech

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball held off Sunshine State Conference rival Florida Tech on Wednesday evening, as the Sharks avenged a SSC loss against the Panthers with a 73-70 victory at the Rick Case Arena. 

Nova Southeastern has now won 55 consecutive games at the Rick Case Arena, dating back to the 2019-20 season. 

Breakdown
Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 18-2, 12-2 SSC | Florida Tech 12-8, 5-8 SSC
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 73 | Florida Tech 70
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball

How it Happened
First Half – The Sharks got off to an early advantage, taking a 7-1 lead over the Panthers, as Ryan Walsh, Ryker Cisarik, Shane Hunter and Isaiah Fuller got involved in the opening minutes. The contest turned into a defensive and physical struggle for most of the first half, but the Sharks were able to open a 16-6 lead following a MJ Iraldi three-pointer midway through the period. Nova Southeastern was able to pull away, maintaining a double-digit advantage into the halftime break, leading 36-24. 

Second Half – Following the break, both the Sharks and Panthers traded buckets back-and-forth to begin the second half, but NSU took a 51-35 lead after five straight points from Alex Mangold. Florida Tech battled back into the game before taking a 61-60 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the match-up. Hunter and Fuller combined to hit four straight free throws, putting NSU ahead 66-61 with 3:20 left on the clock. A few moments later, the Panthers went on a brief, 5-0 run, tying the game at 66-66. Iraldi put NSU in front with a lay-up and Fuller sealed the game with the final five points for the Sharks, as NSU hung on to beat Florida Tech 73-70. 

In other Sunshine State Conference action, Florida Southern (10-4 SSC) was defeated by Embry-Riddle 97-90 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Sharks now hold a two-game lead in the Sunshine State Conference standings with six games remaining in the regular season.

Shark Standouts
Isaiah Fuller: 16 points, three steals, 5-6 FT
Shane Hunter: 15 points, two blocks, seven rebounds, 5-6 FT
Alex Mangold: 10 points, 3-3 FG
GianFranco Grafals: 10 points, 4-5 FG

What's Next
No. 2 Nova Southeastern travels to take on Embry-Riddle in Sunshine State Conference action on Saturday, February 10th. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. 

To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MBasketball. 
 

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MJ Iraldi Named SSC Player of the Week

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference announced the Players of the Week for the week of January 29 – February 4, on Monday afternoon. Nova Southeastern Sharks student-athlete MJ Iraldi (Men’s Basketball) earned honors following his performances this past week.      

Iraldi collects Player of the Week by scoring nearly a point a minute during NSU’s pair of road conference wins. The West Deptford, New Jersey product was efficient in a 109-93 victory at Lynn, scoring a game-high 30 points in 27 minutes with an 87% field goal percentage. In the win, he added nine rebounds, three steals, and an assist to his stat sheet. Iraldi saw the court for 17 minutes in NSU’s 117-70 win at Eckerd. He scored 11 points, dished a game-high five assists, registered two steals, and pulled down a rebound in the contest. The junior totaled 41 points last week by shooting 77% from the field (17-22), 80% from behind the arc (4-5), and 75% from the free-throw line (3-4). Iraldi averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.5 blocks while playing 22.0 minutes per game. 

To stay up-to-date on Sharks athletics, be sure to follow on Instagram and Twitter at NSUSharks.  

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