FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks Men’s Basketball team won the program’s third consecutive Sunshine State Conference tournament championship, defeating seventh-seeded Barry 87-76 on Sunday afternoon at the Rick Case Arena. Shane Hunter scored 18 points, grabbed nine rebounds, while blocking three shots and adding three steals. MJ Iraldi added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Hunter was named the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, while Iraldi and Isaiah Fuller were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Sharks have won 61 consecutive games at the Rick Case Arena, dating back to February 2020.
Records: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 27-2 | Barry 17-12
Score: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 87 | Barry 76
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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First Half – Barry opened the game on a 9-5 run holding the lead into the first media timeout. Trey Doomes forced a turnover and finished the chance off with an and-one lay-up, tying the game at 9-9. Each point had to be earned throughout the opening first half, with tough defense forcing difficult shots for each opposing team, as the score was tied 16-16 at the midway point. Later in the half, Ryan Davis added a steal, helping MJ Iraldi set up Shane Hunter with a fast-break lay-up, tying the game once again at 20-20. Ryker Cisarik put NSU ahead 26-22, but five consecutive points from the Bucs, put Barry in front 27-26 with less than six minutes left in the opening half. Alex Mangold responded to a Buccaneers three-pointer with one of his own, tying the game at 32-32. Nova Southeastern closed the half on an 11-2 run, which was capped by a steal and thunderous slam dunk by Shane Hunter, sending the game into the halftime break with NSU leading 43-35.
Second Half – The Buccaneers cut the Sharks lead to three points, but Mangold added another three-pointer to put NSU in front 46-40. Barry and Nova Southeastern continued to match each other make for make, but the Sharks were able to maintain the advantage. A 6-0 run by NSU was capped off by an Isaiah Fuller bucket, putting the score at 63-56 midway through the half. Mike Moore knocked down a clutch three-pointer, keeping the Sharks in front by two possessions. Cisarik put back a dunk, following a miss by Iraldi, putting the score at 74-67 with four minutes remaining. NSU clinched their third consecutive Sunshine State Conference tournament title, defeating Barry 87-76.
Shane Hunter: 18 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, three steals
MH Iraldi: 13 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, two blocks
Isaiah Fuller: 15 points, three assists, two steals
No. 1 Nova Southeastern awaits the NCAA Selection show on Sunday night at 11 p.m., to watch click here. The Sharks will host the NCAA South Region tournament, beginning on Saturday, March 16th. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball throughout their tournament run, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MBasketball.
