FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In a match-up between the second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks, the highest scoring offense in NCAA Division II, and the eighth-seeded Savannah State Golden Tigers, the third best scoring defense in NCAA Division II, the Sharks emerged victorious with a 76-64 victory in the first round of the NCAA South Region Tournament on Saturday evening at the Rick Case Arena. All five starters for the Sharks scored in double figures, as MJ Iraldi, the Sunshine State Conference and D2 CCA South Region Player of the Year, paced the Sharks in the effort, scoring a team-best 17 points, adding eight rebounds. Alex Mangold and Tyler Eberhart each tallied 11 points and eight rebounds.
Nova Southeastern has now won 82 consecutive games at the Rick Case Arena, extending their NCAA Division II record.
NSU improves to 18-3, 5-0 in the first round, in the NCAA Tournament under the direction of Head Coach Jim Crutchfield
Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 31-1 | Savannah State 18-12
Scores: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 76 | Savannah State 64
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram & X – NSU_MBasketball
First Half – The Sharks opened the NCAA Tournament on a 7-3 run, as Dallas Graziani, Alex Mangold and Ross Reeves each recorded a bucket in the opening minutes of the contest. Moments later, Tommy Sala converted an and-one, giving NSU a 10-5 lead. Midway through the opening half, NSU led 21-16 over Savannah State following a pair of free throws by MJ Iraldi. Late in the first half, Savannah State tied the game 29-29, but the Sharks went on a 9-2 run to close the half. Ross Reeves scored five points in the run, while Mangold and Iraldi each contributed a pair of points. NSU went into the half leading 38-31.
Second Half – Early in the first half, Savannah State cut the NSU advantage to 45-44, before a 10-2 run by the Sharks which was led by Iraldi and Tyler Eberhart, as Nova Southeastern took a 55-46 lead. A steal by Graziani set up a fast-break lay-up by Iraldi which gave the Sharks a 61-50 advantage midway through the half. NSU opened up a 69-55 lead with less than five minutes remaining. The Sharks closed out the 76-64 NCAA Tournament victory over Savannah State.
MJ Iraldi: 17 points, eight rebounds
Ross Reeves: 13 points, six rebounds, three steals
Alex Mangold: 11 points, eight rebounds, 5-6 FG
Tyler Eberhart: 11 points, eight rebounds, 4-6 FG
The second-ranked Sharks will take on Sunshine State Conference rival Lynn in a South Florida showdown in the NCAA South Region Tournament second round on Sunday, March 16th, at the Rick Case Arena. TIp-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MBasketball. To purchase tickets for Sunday’s games at the Rick Case Arena, click here.
