Tag: Men’s Basketball

MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The victories continue to pile up for the top-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team, as NSU defeated Sunshine State Conference opponent Barry 125-98. Nova Southeastern has won 42 consecutive games – dating back to the start of the 2022-23 season – and 42 straight Sunshine State Conference games since the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign.

Three Sharks recorded at least 20 points in the contest, as Shane Hunter continues his breakout campaign with a career-high 27 points (10-12 FG), MJ Iraldi (22 points/7-7 FG) and Isaiah Fuller (24 points).

Records: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 6-0, 2-0 SSC | Barry 4-3, 0-2 SSC
Score: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 125 | Barry 98
Location: Health & Sports Center | Miami Shores, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball

First Half – The Sharks started the game with a 7-0 run in the first minute of the contest, Shane Hunter started the scoring, while MJ Iraldi added a layup and Isaiah Fuller converted an and-one. Barry responded with a 9-3 run, tying the game at 11-11. The Buccaneers took a 30-23 lead over NSU, but the Sharks rallied for a 12-3 run, capped off by a Ryker Cisarik three-pointer, to reclaim the advantage at 35-33 at the midway point of the contest. Hunter went coast-to-coast, recording a steal on the defensive end and slamming in a dunk to put NSU ahead 37-35. Later in the half, Mike Moore knocked down a three-point bucket and followed it with a lay-up, giving the Sharks a 60-52 lead. Nova Southeastern went into the halftime break leading 68-57 over the Buccaneers.

Second Half – Barry scored the first seven points of the second half, cutting into the Sharks lead at 68-64. Moore hit another three-pointer, giving the Sharks some breathing room with a 73-66 advantage. A block by Hunter set up a fastbreak opportunity for Fuller, and the guard finished a layup to put NSU back in front by double digits at 80-70. Trey Doomes provided a second chance opportunity for the Sharks and put back a lay up at the midway point, giving the Sharks a 93-82 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining. Iraldi continued his perfect day from the field, scoring five consecutive points, and gave NSU a 116-95 lead over Barry in the waning moments of the contest. NSU closed out the program’s 42^nd consecutive win with a 125-98 win over the Buccaneers.

Shane Hunter: 27 points, 10-12 FG, six rebounds, six blocks
Isaiah Fuller: 24 points, 8-12 FG, three steals
MJ Iraldi: 22 points, 7-7 FG
The Sharks dominanted inside the paint, outscoring the Buccaneers 62-38.
NSU forced 13 turnovers by the Buccaneers and outscored Barry 25-17.

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield – It’s always such a physical battle at Barry. We always take the next day off after we play them and we definitely need a day to recover after that one 

No. 1 Nova Southeastern returns to the Rick Case Arena to take on Palm Beach Atlantic in Sunshine State Conference action on Saturday, December 9^th. Tip-off is set 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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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team continued its winning ways on Wednesday evening, opening Sunshine State Conference play with their 41^st consecutive overall and SSC win, as well as winning the 47^th straight contest at the Rick Case Arena, by defeating the Lynn Fighting Knights 99-74.

The victory was Head Coach Jim Crutchfield‘s 500^th career victory. The legendary Sharks bench boss holds the highest winning percentage across all levels of NCAA Basketball at 0.859.

Mr. 5⃣0⃣0⃣

Congratulations to our head coach Jim Crutchfield on his 500th career win! He is the nineteenth active Division II coach to reach this mark and among coaches with 500 wins, he owns the highest winning percentage at .859!#HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/VKZAyC4uhs

— NSU Men’s Basketball (@NSU_MBasketball) November 30, 2023

Records: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 5-0, 1-0 SSC | Lynn 2-1, 0-1 SSC
Score: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 99 | Lynn 74
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball

First Half – The Sharks were all over Lynn from the opening tip-off, forcing a turnover on the Fighting Knights first four possessions and starting the game with the first seven points of the contest. MJ Iraldi scored four consecutive points for NSU, extending the lead to 14-2 in less than three minutes. Ryker Cisarik sparked another run for Nova Southeastern, scoring five consecutive points and putting the score at 19-6. Midway through the opening period, Nova Southeastern maintained a double-digit lead at 27-17. In the waning minutes of the first half, the Sharks went on an 8-0 run, led by six points from GianFranco Grafals and extended the advantage to 41-23. Cisarik knocked down a three-point in the final minute, sending NSU into the halftime break with a 51-33 lead.

Second Half – Grafals made an impact on both sides of the floor to begin the second half, recording a block and following it up with a three-point bucket to put the Sharks ahead 54-33. Nova Southeastern was able to hold the Fighting Knights at bay in the opening minutes, maintaining a 65-50 lead with under 12 minutes remaining in the contest. Iraldi forced a turnover in the half court and finished off a dunk, putting NSU ahead 73-56. Alex Mangold recorded a three-pointer and extended the advantage to 85-62. NSU closed out the program’s 41^st consecutive victory, 41^st consecutive Sunshine State Conference victory (dating back to the 2021-22 season) and 47^th straight home win (dating back to the 2019-20 season) defeating Lynn 99-74.

Shane Hunter: 12 points, 7 blocks, 7 rebounds
GianFranco Grafals: 17 points, 8-12 FT
Isaiah Fuller: 19 points, 1 block, 2 steals

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield – “Tonight is about all the players and assistant coaches I have had along the way. It felt great to get win number five of this season, more than number 500. Lynn has a good basketball team and we had to do several different things tonight.”

The No.1 Nova Southeastern Sharks return to action on Saturday, December 2^nd, taking on Sunshine State Conference rival Barry in Miami Shores. Tip-off is set 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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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. –  For the 40^th consecutive game, the No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team emerged victorious, as the top-ranked Sharks defeated the Bluefield State Big Blue 110-86 on Sunday afternoon from the Rick Case Arena. GianFranco Grafals led the Sharks in the effort, scoring a game-high 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds for his double-double of the season.

Under Head Coach Jim Crutchfield, the No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks have now won 46 consecutive contests at the Rick Case Arena dating back to February 26, 2020.

Records: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 4-0 | Bluefield State 1-5
Score: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 110 | Bluefield State 86
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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First Half – Bluefield State and Nova Southeastern, playing a similar full-court press defense, grinded through most of the first half, as the score was tied 7-7 at the 15 minute mark. Nearing the midway mark of the opening frame, Bluefield State went into the under eight minutes media timeout with a 32-24 advantage. Following the brief break, the Sharks rallied for a 9-1 run, tying the score at 33-33, after a layup from Shane Hunter. Nova Southeastern went on an 8-0 run, taking a 46-40 lead over Bluefield State – the Sharks received points from GianFranco Grafals, Ryan Davis, Isaiah Fuller and Hunter during the rally. NSU went into the halftime break leading 52-48 over Bluefield State.

Second Half – After halftime, the Sharks came out with a 6-0 run, as MJ Iraldi and Grafals scored, putting NSU in front 58-48 and forcing BSU to use a timeout. Grafals knocked down a three-pointer and pushed the lead to 64-50. Just before the 10-minute mark in the second half Grafals added two more points to his ledger, extending the lead to 81-62. Bluefield State did not go away, going on a 16-3 run and put the score at 86-78 with just over six minutes remaining. NSU responded with a 14-3 run, putting the score at 100-81, before ending the Sharks 40^th consecutive win by a score of 110-86.

GIanFranco Grafals: 25 points, 10-18 FG, 11 rebounds
Shane Hunter: 24 points, 10-14 FG, nine rebounds, three blocks
Isaiah Fuller: 16 points, six assists, three rebounds
Crashing the offensive glass was a difference maker in the contest, as the Sharks scored 24 points off of second chances and collected 26 offensive rebounds.
NSU dominated inside the paint, outscoring Bluefield State 76-34.

No. 1 Nova Southeastern begins Sunshine State Conference Action on Wednesday, November 29^th, taking on Lynn from the Rick Case Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:30 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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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The reigning NCAA Division II National Champion, Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team, has continued to roll to begin the 2023-24 season. NSU, under the direction of Head Coach Jim Crutchfield, has reclaimed the top spot in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) rankings. 

The Sharks, led by their trademarked high-powered and relentless offense, rank second in NCAA Division II in points-per-game (108.3) and are 3-0 to open the season. 

No. 1 Nova Southeastern has won 39 consecutive games, including the 2022-23 NCAA Division II National Championship, and is 70-1 dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season. Head Coach Jim Crutchfield (498-82/0.858 winning percentage) is just two wins away from reaching 500 for his legendary career. 

The top-ranked Sharks return to action on Sunday, November 26th, taking on Bluefield State College at the Rick Case Arena. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here. 

Full NABC Rankings

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

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Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern Men’s Basketball team won their 45th straight home game on Wednesday evening from the Rick Case Arena. Prior to today’s game, NSU Athletics honored the 2022-23 Men’s Basketball National Championship team with the presentation of their championship rings and banner unveiling. In the game, the Sharks were led by four double-digit efforts from Shane Hunter (16), MJ Iraldi (14), GianFranco Grafals (14 points), and Isaiah Fuller (13). 

Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 3-0 | Southeastern 2-4 
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 96 | Southeastern 53  
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.   
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball  

First Half – Hunter got it started with a bucket 10 seconds into the match. Midway through the first half, a three-pointer put Southeastern up 22-12 but consecutive baskets from Ryan Walsh, Grafals, and Alex Mangold brought the Sharks back within four. A 14-0 Shark run capped off by a layup from Hunter, gave NSU a 34-22 lead. Towards the end of the half, Mike Moore sparked a 6-0 run to end the half, giving the Sharks a 16-point lead going into the break. 

Second Half – Consecutive layups from Iraldi and Fuller got the Sharks off to a hot start in the second half. With just under nine minutes remaining in the game, three-pointers from Maxwell Gordon and Walsh extended the Sharks lead to 32. The offensive onslaught continued as back-to-back jumpers from Fuller and Iraldi brought the score to 89-50. The Sharks kept the pressure on, securing tonight’s matchup over the Southeastern Fire 96-53. 

 

Shane Hunter: 16 points, six rebounds 

MJ Iraldi: 14 points, eight rebounds 

GianFranco Grafals: 14 points 

Isaiah Fuller: 13 points 

The second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks will host Bluefield State University on Sunday, November 29th, from the Rick Case Arena with tip-off set for 2 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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MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – In a rematch of last season’s NCAA South Region Championship Game, the second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team defeated the 23rd ranked Alabama-Huntsville Chargers by a score of 105-84 in NSU’s second game at the Sunshine State Conference and Gulf South Conference Crossover tournament. Ryan Davis paced the Sharks offensive attack, scoring a team-best 19 points, while Isaiah Fuller (14), Shane Hunter (12), Ryan Walsh (14) and GianFranco Grafals (13) all recorded double-digit points.  

Dating back to the opening game of the 2022-23 season, Nova Southeastern has defeated Alabama-Huntsville three consecutive times and the Sharks are averaging 97.66 points-per-game in each contest.  

Nova Southeastern has won 38 consecutive games since the tip-off of the 2022-23 campaign and NSU Men’s Basketball is 69-1 in contests dating back to the 2021-22 season.  

Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 2-0 | No. 23 Alabama-Huntsville 1-1 
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 105 | No. 23 Alabama-Huntsville 84 
Location: Health & Sports Center | Miami Shores, Fla.  
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball 

First Half – The Sharks held a 6-5 lead over UAH through the first two minutes of action, before a Ryan Walsh three-pointer, followed by two consecutive buckets from Ryker Cisarik and a free throw from GianFranco Grafals, put the score at 14-5 before the first media timeout. Ryan Davis and Walsh each knocked down a three-pointer to extend the NSU advantage to 22-9. After the midway point of the opening half, Shane Hunter finished a lay-up, off an assist from Davis, giving the Sharks a 36-20 lead. Grafals added a bucket on a second chance opportunity, putting the score at 42-28 with less than eight minutes remaining. Isaiah Fuller knocked down a pair of free throws and gave NSU a 58-29 lead over the Chargers. Walsh’s fourth three-pointer of the opening half sent the Sharks into halftime with a 74-40 advantage over Alabama-Huntsville.  

Second Half – Nova Southeastern continued to press the Chargers in the second half, extending the lead to 83-40 following a lay-up from Tommy Sala. At the midway point of the second frame, Nova Southeastern maintained a 20+ point lead over Alabama-Huntsville, as the score sat at 91-64 with 10:25 remaining. NSU extended its lead courtesy of free throws by Grafals, Alex Mangold and Davis, before Grafals knocked down a jumper to put the Sharks over the century mark with a 100-74 lead. Nova Southeastern sealed the second win of the 2023 season with a 105-84 victory over UAH.

Ryan Davis: 19 points, two steals, 3-7 3PT 
Isaiah Fuller: 14 points, three steals, five rebounds 
Ryan Walsh: 14 points, 4-4 3PT 

The Sharks forced 28 turnovers in the contest and outscored Alabama-Huntsville 44-17 off turnovers.  

Nova Souteastern’s transition offense was a difference maker in the contest, as the Sharks scored 28 points on the fast break.  

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield – “The guys did a great job of taking Alabama-Huntsville out of their offensive rhythm with pressure defense. That’s a big win for us, as Alabama-Huntsville is a nationally ranked team that will most likely be in the mix for NCAA postseason play.” 

The second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks will host Southeastern (NAIA) in the 2023 home opener on Wednesday, November 15th, from the Rick Case Arena. Prior to the game, the 2022-23 NCAA Division II National Champions will be honored with a ring and championship banner unveiling ceremony – scheduled for 6:40 p.m. – with tip-off set for 7 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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MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – The second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team opened their 2023-24 season with a dominant 124-96 victory over the Montevallo Falcons on Friday afternoon from the Health & Sports Center on the campus of Barry University. Six Sharks scored in double digits in the victory – Shane Hunter (18 points), GianFranco Grafals (18), Isaiah Fuller (15), Ryker Cisarik (15), MJ Iraldi (12), and Trey Doomes (10).  

No. 2 Nova Southeastern has now won 37 consecutive games and is 68-1 dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season.  
Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 1-0 | Montevallo 0-1 
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 124, Montevallo 96 
Location: Health & Sports Center | Miami Shores, Fla. 
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball 

First Half – The Sharks began the game on a 6-2 run, as Shane Hunter recorded the first four points of the season for NSU, before MJ Iraldi finished a layup following an assist from Isaiah Fuller. Ryan Walsh notched the first points of his collegiate career, knocking down a three-pointer to reclaim the lead for the Sharks at 9-8. Midway through the half, the Sharks trailed the Falcons 28-21, but Hunter flipped the momentum, recording a steal and going coast-to-coast to finish an and-one, cutting Montevallo’s lead to four points. A few moments later, Ryan Davis knocked down a three-pointer, reclaiming the lead for NSU at 29-28. Nova Southeastern closed out the first half on a 29-14 run, heading into the break with a 64-50 lead over the Falcons.  

Second Half – In the early minutes of the second half, Mike Moore responded to a Montevallo three-pointer with one of his own, putting the score at 68-53 in favor of the Sharks. Hunter once again made an impact on the defensive end, adding another steal, before finishing off a fast break dunk, giving Nova Southeastern a 72-55 lead. The Sharks up-tempo style continued to bother the Falcons, as GianFranco Grafals forced a turnover, leading to a Ryker Cisarik dunk – off an assist by Trey Doomes – giving the Sharks an 80-59 advantage. Midway through the second half, Doomes put the Sharks ahead 100-67 with a free throw. Nova Southeastern closed out the season opening 124-96 victory by outscoring Montevallo 60-46 in the second half.  

Nova Southeastern outscored Montevallo 38-20 in points off turnovers.  
The Sharks bench made a tremendous impact in the outcome, outscoring the Falcons bench 62-38 in the win.  
Shane Hunter: 18 points, 8-9 FG, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals 
GianFranco Grafals: 18 points, 50% FG 
Isaiah Fuller: 15 points, 50% FG, four steals, six assists 

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield – “I thought our team maintained a good level of intensity from start to finish in a very up-tempo game. A lot of players contributed and it was a good overall team effort. A lot of new guy’s experiencing “Sharks Basketball” for the first time.” 

No. 2 Nova Southeastern returns to action on Saturday, November 11th, taking on the University of Alabama-Huntsville for the first time since last season’s NCAA South Region Championship game. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_MBasketball.  

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MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference released its preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Poll on Tuesday afternoon. The reigning, undefeated NCAA Division II National Champion and two-time defending SSC regular season and tournament champion No. 2 Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team has been picked to share the league title with Florida Southern. Both the Mocs and NSU totaled 94 points, however, FSC received six first-place votes compared to the five first-place votes the Sharks were recognized with.  

Nova Southeastern, under the direction of Head Coach Jim Crutchfield, has established itself as a power in both the Sunshine State Conference and the Division II Men’s Basketball landscape since his arrival in 2017. Crutchfield has guided the Sharks to an impressive 136-21 record during his tenure, including an 84-16 mark in SSC play. Over the past two seasons, NSU has a record of 67-1, 40-0 in the league, culminating in the sixth undefeated national championship season in NCAA Division II history during the 2022-23 campaign.  

2023-24 Sunshine State Conference Coaches’ Poll
 

Rank	School	Total Votes (First Place Votes)
T1	Florida Southern	94 (6)
T1	Nova Southeastern	94 (5)
3	Embry-Riddle	78
4	Saint Leo	71
5	Tampa	60
6	Palm Beach Atlantic	50
7	Rollins	45
8	Barry	42
9	Florida Tech	31
10	Lynn	28
11	Eckerd	12

NSU returns key pieces from last year’s NCAA Division II National Championship run, as Ryan Davis, Maxwell Gordon, Mike Moore, Tommy Sala, Alex Mangold, and Shane Hunter came back for Nova Southeastern. The Sharks welcomed several new additions into the mix for the upcoming season, as Isaiah Fuller (Missouri-St. Louis), Trey Doomes (Oklahoma Baptist), Ryker Cisarik (Black Hills State [ND]), Kidd Brizek (Tennessee), MJ Iraldi (Chestnut Hill), and GianFranco Grafals (Southern Mississippi) all joined the NSU Men’s Basketball program as transfers, while Camden Andrews, Jamie Qualley, Eli Allen, and Ryan Walsh committed as freshmen.  

The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) also released its preseason coaches’ poll on Tuesday afternoon. Nova Southeastern enters the season as the second-ranked team in the nation. The full NABC Coaches’ Poll can be found here.  

The second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team begins play on Friday, November 10, taking on Montevallo (AL.) for the SSC-GSC Crossover in Miami Shores, Fla. Tip-off is set for 2:30 p.m.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The reigning NCAA Division II National Champion, Nova Southeastern Men’s Basketball team is preparing to defend their title and announces their 2023-24 schedule. Last season, the Sharks completed the sixth undefeated national championship season in NCAA Division II history.  

Head Coach Jim Crutchfield has turned the Sharks Men’s Basketball program into a national powerhouse since his arrival in 2017. During his tenure, NSU has a record of 136-21, including a 67-1 mark over the last two seasons.

“We open our season with important games against regional opponents, as both Montevallo and Alabama-Huntsville are perennially nationally ranked. Later in the season, we also host former assistant Devin Hoehn (Bluefield State), who brings his high-scoring Bluefield State team into the Shark Tank,” stated Crutchfield. “We’re looking forward to the challenges of the season, with a roster full of newcomers and consistent performing returners, and it should be an exciting year for the Sharks.”

The Sharks welcomed several additions into the fold for the 2023-24 campaign, as Isaiah Fuller, Trey Doomes, Ryker Cisarik, MJ Iraldi, Jamie Qualley, Kidd Brizek, Camden Andrews, GianFranco Grafals and Ryan Walsh will all look to make an impact in their first season at NSU. Nova Southeastern also returns six players from the 2022-23 national championship season in Ryan Davis, Maxwell Gordon, Mike Moore, Tommy Sala, Alex Mangold and Shane Hunter.

Former Nova Southeastern Men’s Basketball standout Nick Smith continues to make an impact for the program and was named the Assistant Coach following the national championship victory.
Nova Southeastern tips off their campaign against Montevallo, in a neutral site game, on November 10^th, before taking on Albama-Huntsville – last season’s NCAA South Region Championship matchup – on November 11^th in Miami Shores, Fla.

The Sharks welcome Southeastern for the home opener at the Rick Case Arena on November 15^th. After a brief hiatus, NSU returns to the court with a matchup against Bluefield State on 11/26. Sunshine State Conference action begins on November 29^th, with the Sharks taking on Lynn at home, before playing Barry on the road (12/2). Nova Southeastern’s longest homestand of the season begins on December 9^th, with the Sharks facing off against Palm Beach Atlantic, then Keiser (12/13), Lake Erie (12/16), before closing out 2023 with a Sunshine State Conference game against Embry-Riddle (12/30).

NSU begins the 2024 slate of games on the road against Florida Southern (1/3), before returning to the Rick Case Arena to take on Tampa on January 6^th. The following week, Nova Southeastern travels to play Rollins (1/10) and Florida Tech on January 13^th. The Sharks continue SSC action with match-ups at Saint Leo (1/20), home against Rollins (1/31), at Eckerd (2/3), home versus Florida Tech (2/7), away against Embry-Riddle (2/10), and on the road versus Palm Beach Atlantic (2/17).

The final stretch of the 2023-24 season for Nova Southeastern includes three home games beginning with hosting Barry on February 21st and hosting Florida Southern on February 24^th, before the Sharks travel to Tampa (2/28) and closing out the regular season with a home game against Saint Leo (3/2).

The Sunshine State Conference Tournament tips off on Saturday, March 2^nd, as the Sharks look to win their third consecutive tournament crown. The NCAA National Championship tournament will be held at the Ford Center in Evansville, IN., where the Sharks seek to return to see their 2022-23 national championship banner in the rafters.

Season Tickets for the Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball season can be purchased here. To stay up-to-date on NSU Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_MBasketball.
 

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After reaching the pinnacle of NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball, No. 1 Nova Southeastern enters the 2023-24 season as the reigning national champions. Head Coach Jim Crutchfield guided the Sharks to the program’s first national title and completed the sixth undefeated, championship season in the history of NCAA Division II. Crutchfield and the Sharks have reloaded the roster, with their eyes set on another deep tournament run.  

The Sharks 2023-24 signing class features Isaiah Fuller, MJ Iraldi, Ryker Cisarik, Troy Boynton and James Qualley.  

Isaiah Fuller | Guard | Graduate Transfer | University of Missouri-St. Louis 

Fuller signs with Nova Southeastern after leading UMSL to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in 2022-23. During the campaign, Fuller started 34 games for the Tritons, averaging 32.5 minutes per game and a career-best 15.6 points per game, while shooting 53% from the field.  

What Crutchfield is saying: “Isaiah comes to us as a very experienced guard. He is not only a versatile player scorer at all three levels, but I feel as if he can be a great defender in our aggressive system as he was picked the Great Lakes Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year.” 

MJ Iraldi |Guard/Forward | Junior | Chestnut Hill 

Iraldi commits to NSU after two seasons at Chestnut Hill, where he played in 46 games across two seasons. During his time at CHC, Iraldi averaged 14 points per game, while playing 26.4 minutes per game.  

What Crutchfield is saying: “MJ has the ability to play anywhere from the 1-to-4 on the offensive end and guard at the same level on the defensive side. I think MJ sees the game clearly, which is important in our system that requires a lot of quick-decision making.” 

Ryker Cisarik | Forward | Junior | Black Hills State 

Cisarik was part of two NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament teams with Black Hills State during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. While at BHSU, Cisarik appeared in over 70 games and is a career 53% shooter from the field. Cisarik scored 13 points against Minnesotta-Duluth, as a reserve, for Black Hills State to send the Yellow Jackets to the Final Four for the second consecutive season.  

What Crutchfield is saying: “I had the chance to see Ryker play in back-to-back Elite 8’s, coming out of the successful program of Black Hills State University. He knows what it takes to win. With his size and skill set, he is a tough match-up for opponents.” 

Troy Boynton | Guard | Redshirt Sophomore | South Carolina 

Boynton makes his return home following a season at both the University of Evansville and the University of South Carolina.  

What Crutchfield is saying: “I think Troy is a great fit for our up-tempo basketball system on both the offense and defensive end. Troy is a local product, and we are very excited to have him as a Shark.” 

James Qualley | Guard | Freshman | IMG Academy 

A true freshman, Qualley commits to Nova Southeastern following his prep career at IMG Academy.  

What Crutchfield is saying: “Jamie is an outstanding perimeter shooter, but I feel his game will evolve into a complete player both offensively and defensively. Jamie just finished a great season at the Nationally known IMG Academy.” 

The reigning National Champion Sharks return to the court in the fall of 2023. To stay up-to-date on NSU Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram & Twitter at NSU_MBasketball.  

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