FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – For the third consecutive season, the second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team has won the Sunshine State Conference regular season title. The Sharks defeated Florida Southern 93-63 on Saturday afternoon from the Rick Case Arena. Shane Hunter (19 points/8 rebounds) and MJ Iraldi (17 points/9 rebounds) led NSU in the effort, as Nova Southeastern won its tenth consecutive game.
NSU has now won 57 consecutive games at the Rick Case Arena, dating back to February 2020.
Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 22-2, 16-2 SSC | Florida Southern 20-8, 14-5 SSC
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 93 | Florida Southern 63
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball
First Half – Alex Mangold gave the Sharks an early 7-2 lead over Florida Southern after knocking down a three-pointer off an assist from Mike Moore. NSU opened up a 11-point advantage before the midway point of the first half, as the Sharks led 18-7 after a pair of free throws by Trey Doomes. Later in the half, Ryker Cisarik recorded a three-point bucket of his own, extending the Nova Southeastern lead to 31-13 with just over five minutes remaining in the half. A 6-0 run by the Sharks, led by four points from Shane Hunter, put NSU in front 37-15 over Florida Southern. Hunter closed out the half by putting back a second chance opportunity, narrowly beating the buzzer, and sent NSU into halftime with a 43-22 lead.
Second Half – Nova Southeastern maintained its 20-point lead over Florida Southern throughout the opening minutes of the second half, as the Sharks defense continued to limit the Mocs offense. Midway through the second half, NSU led 73-45 over FSC. A few moments later, MJ Iraldi put the Sharks in front 78-48 after he finished off an and-one opportunity. GianFranco Grafals made a pair of free throws and gave the Sharks their largest advantage of the game, putting the score at 87-50. Nova Southeastern clinched the program’s third consecutive regular season Sunshine State Conference title, fourth since the 2018-19 season, defeating Florida Southern 93-63.
Shane Hunter: 19 points, eight rebounds, three blocks
MJ Iraldi: 17 points, nine rebounds
NSU held Florida Southern to 29% from the field and 1-21 (4.8%) from beyond the arc in the victory.
The Sharks’ reserve unit outscored Florida Southern’s 41-14
No. 2 Nova Southeastern takes on Tampa in Sunshine State Conference action on Wednesday, February 28th, from the Bob Martinez Athletics Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_MBasketball.
