MONTEVALLO, AL. – The No. 2 Nova Southeastern Men’s Basketball team were nearly pushed to their limit, in a game that featured 15 ties and 19 lead changes, but a late 7-2 run, which featured five of Ryker Cisarik’s 32 points, was enough for the Sharks to pull through with a 105-104 overtime victory over the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers in the first game of the SSC/GSC Crossover at the Central State Bank Arena. All five starters for the Sharks scored in double figures for the second consecutive game, as MJ Iraldi (20), Tyler Eberhard (18), Ross Reeves (16) and Dallas Graziani (15) joined Cisarik’s efforts.
Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 3-0 | Alabama-Huntsville 0-1
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 105 | Alabama-Huntsville 104
Location: Central State Bank Arena| Montevallo, AL.
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First Half – The game opened up with both teams trading buckets back-and-forth, UAH started the scoring with a three-pointer which was answered by a three-point bucket by Ryker Cisarik. Dallas Graziani and and Eli Allen got involved on the scoreboard, putting NSU ahead 9-8 at the first media timeout. Cisarik and MJ Iraldi combined to score eight straight points for NSU, giving Nova Southeastern a 17-16 lead with under 12 minutes to go in the first half. Tyler Eberhart and Graziani added the next 12 points for NSU, pushing the Sharks’ advantage to 29-21 over the Chargers. Alabama-Huntsville went on a 13-5 run, tying the game at 34-34 before a fast-break bucket from Eberhart and a dunk from Cisarik, extended NSU’s lead to 38-34. The Sharks went into the halftime break leading 44-37 over the Chargers.
Second Half – The Chargers made adjustments during the break and used an 11-3 run to take the lead at 48-47 over NSU within three minutes of the second half. Ross Reeves knocked down a three-pointer, briefly halting the UAH momentum, before Iraldi added back-to-back buckets and reclaimed the lead for Nova Southeastern at 54-53. NSU and UAH continued to trade baskets, as midway through the half the score was tied at 69-69. Cisarik and Reeves hit two consecutive three-point attempts for the Sharks, pushing the lead to 79-75 with six minutes remaining. UAH continued to battle, taking the lead at 81-79 just twi minutes later. Down the final stretch of regulation, neither team held a lead greater than two points, as the Chargers took a 91-89 advantage with just 20 seconds remaining, but a pair of clutch free throws from Iraldi sent the game into overtime with the score deadlocked at 91-91.
Overtime – After a scoreless first minute, neither the Sharks or Chargers missed a shot over a span of two minutes, as Cisarik and Eberhart combined for ten points, but NSU trailed 102-101 after UAH hit three consecutive three-pointers. In the final minute, the Chargers took a 104-101 lead, but a clutch lay-up from Iraldi brought the Sharks back within one. After a missed three-pointer, Cisarik’s efforts led to a foul by the Chargers, sending him to the free throw line. Cisarik knocked down both free throws and UAH missed their attempt at a game-winner, as the Sharks escaped with a 105-104 victory.
For the game, NSU outscored UAH 15-8 off turnovers, 46-28 in the paint, and 23-7 in transition.
Ryker Cisarik: 32 points (career-high), 40% 3PT FG, eight rebounds, two blocks, 6-6 FT
MJ Iraldi: 20 points, 50% FG, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals
Tyler Eberhart: 18 points, 50% FG, 12 rebounds (first double-double of season)
Ross Reeves: 16 points, 50% 3PT FG
Dallas Graziani: 15 points, 11 assists (third consecutive double-double)
Head Coach Jim Crutchfield – “Our ability to score was key. What we take away from a game like this, is that if we able to become an outstanding team that wins big games, we have to get better defensively.”
Ryker Cisarik: “I give all the credit to my teammates. UAH was leaving me open and my teammates were finding me. After the first half, everyone was telling me to keep shooting and to stay confident. I couldn’t be more grateful for the guys around me. We were tested with a ton of adversity, but we persevered and came away with a great team win!”
Dallas Graziani – “I think we all realized how much of a fight it was going to be in this game. We knew they were a good team and they shot it really well and I think we realized it was going to take a lot to get the win. We all did a great job of staying focused even with some of the crazy shots they hit and we stayed together and kind of fed off of each other’s energy. And it was great to come out with a win in a game like this and was just a really great effort from everyone.”
It’ll be a quick turnaround for the Sharks, as No. 2 Nova Southeastern takes on Montevallo in the final game of the SSC/GSC Crossover at the Central Bank Arena on Saturday, November 9th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MBasketball.
