FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In the third match-up of the season between the No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks and their Sunshine State Conference rival Embry-Riddle Eagles 81-73 in the second round of the NCAA South Region Tournament on Sunday night from the Rick Case Arena.
No. 1 Nova Southeastern has won eight consecutive NCAA Division II Championship Tournament games and 63 straight games at the Rick Case Arena dating back to February 2020.
Records: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 29-2 | Embry-Riddle 22-10
Score: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 81 | Embry-Riddle 73
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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First Half – The Sharks were all over the Eagles from the opening tip, running off a 13-0 run – capped off by back-to-back three-point buckets from Mike Moore – over the first five minutes of the game. The contest transitioned into a defensive struggle, with both Sunshine State Conference programs needing to battle for each and every point. Midway through the half, NSU maintained a double-digit advantage at 20-10. With just under three minutes remaining, MJ Iraldi finished off a fast-break lay-up and put NSU in front 29-21. Embry-Riddle cut the Sharks lead to just three points, but right before the half Ryker Cisarik buried a three-pointer and Iraldi added a buzzer-beating second chance opportunity to send Nova Southeastern into the break leading 36-30.
Second Half – Iraldi knocked down a three-pointer early in the second half, pushing NSU’s advantage to 43-34. Embry-Riddle put the Sharks lead at 47-41 in the opening five minutes of the final half. Later in the half, GianFranco Grafals and Trey Doomes added back-to-back buckets for Nova Southeastern putting the score 56-44. Nova Southeastern was able to open up a double-digit lead late in the contest, as Doomes added four straight points, putting the score at 66-55. ERAU rallied for an 8-2 run, putting the score at 68-63 with under three minutes left. Nova Southeastern held off the Eagles, finishing the game at the free throw line and closed out the 81-73 victory over Embry-Riddle.
MJ Iraldi: 22 points, 8-13 FG, six rebounds
Isaiah Fuller: 14 points, three rebounds
The No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks will host third-seeded Florida Southern on Tuesday, March 19th, with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line in the NCAA South Region Championship. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MBasketball.
