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
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.
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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.
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.
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.
