FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – For the 50th consecutive time at the Rick Case Arena, the No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team was victorious, as NSU defeated Lake Erie College 102-88 on Saturday afternoon. MJ Iraldi erupted for a season-high 25 points, shooting 60% from the field, and added seven steals, while both Shane Hunter and Mike Moore contributed 18 points each.
The unbeaten Sharks have now won 45 straight games and extended their NCAA Division II record for consecutive regular season wins to 61.
Records: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 9-0 | Lake Erie 3-9
Score: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 102 | Lake Erie 88
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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First Half – The Sharks opened the game on a 6-0 run, as MJ Iraldi, Shane Hunter and Isaiah Fuller got involved early in the contest. Lake Erie responded with an 11-0 rally, knocking down three consecutive three-pointers. Nearing the midway point of the opening half, both the Sharks and the Storm traded buckets back-and-forth, as the score was tied at 21-21. Mike Moore knocked down a pair of three-pointers, putting NSU ahead 34-33 with less than six minutes remaining in the half. Moore closed the half with his third three-point make, sending the Sharks into the half with a 47-37 lead.
Second Half – Hunter scored the first four points of the half, before Iraldi also added four straight points for NSU, opening up a 55-43 advantage. Later in the half, Ryker Cisarik finished off a second chance opportunity with a dunk, extending the Sharks lead to 65-47. Cisarik then added another six consecutive points for the Sharks, giving NSU a 22-point advantage. Lake Erie rallied to cut the Sharks advantage in half, putting the score at 88-77 with 3:30 remaining in the contest. Nova Southeastern held off the Storm surge, winning the 50th consecutive game at the Rick Case Arena 102-88.
MJ Iraldi: 25 points, seven steals, five rebounds
Shane Hunter: 18 points, 10 rebounds (second consecutive double-double)
Mike Moore: 18 points, 60% 3PT
Head Coach Jim Crutchfield – “That’s a good overall win over a solid Lake Erie team. It sure feels good to be going in to the Christmas break 9-0 and ranked No. 1 in the country.”
No. 1 Nova Southeastern returns to action on Saturday, December 30th, taking on Embry-Riddle in Sunshine State Conference action. 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.
