EVANSVILLE, IN. – One win shy of the program’s second NCAA Division II national title in the last three seasons, the second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks will take on No. 14 Cal. State, Dominguez Hills in the final game of the DII season on Saturday afternoon at the Ford Center. Head Coach Jim Crutchfield has turned the NSU Men’s Basketball program into one of the best programs across the country, as Nova Southeastern has accumulated a record of 134-5 over the last four seasons, appearing in each of the last three NCAA Division II title games and winning the 2022-23 national championship.
On the other side of the court, the Toros of CSUDH have shown resiliency throughout their NCAA tournament run, advancing to the Elite Eight as West Region Champions for the first time in program history.
No. 2 Nova Southeastern (35-1)
Sunshine State Conference Regular Season & Tournament Champions, NCAA South Region Champions
Elite Eight: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 102, Assumption 93
Final Four: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 94, No. 5 Washburn 68
Riding the longest winning streak (22 games) across all levels of NCAA men’s basketball, the Sharks put together one of, if not the, best performances of the season in the national semifinal on Thursday night against the fifth-ranked Ichabods. NSU trailed just twice in the game and led for over 37 minutes, en route to the largest Elite Eight tournament win in program history. The duo of MJ Iraldi and Ryker Cisarik combined for 53 points in the victory, while Dallas Graziani added his 15th double-double of the season (18 points, 11 assists).
Cisarik has continued to cement himself as a premier player in the NCAA Tournament, as he is averaging 25 points-per-game, 6.5 rebounds in his last four games, while shooting 62% from the field.
Iraldi, the NABC and D2 CCA National Player of the Year, is averaging a double-double – 20 points and 10.2 rebounds – in the NCAA Tournament.
No. 14 Cal. State, Dominguez Hills (30-5)
California Collegiate Athletic Association Regular Season & Tournament Champions, NCAA West Region Champions
Elite Eight: No. 14 CSUDH 86, No. 6 West Liberty 84
Final Four: No. 14 CSUDH 94, No. 4 Dallas Baptist 83
The Toros have proven to be the “cinderella team” in the Elite Eight; however, they’ve been anything but a cinderella story during the 2024-25 season. In Head Coach Steve Becker’s 12th season leading the program, he has guided CSUDH to their best season and becoming the first California team to play for the NCAA Division II title since 2010.
The Toros are led by NABC All-American Jeremy Dent-Smith, who is averaging 26 points in the Elite Eight tournament. Dent-Smith scored 33 points in the CSUDH national semifinal victory over No. 4 Dallas Baptist, as the Toros were victorious in overtime.
CSUDH has trailed by double digits in both of their Elite Eight games, rallying from down 17 points in the national quarterfinals against No. 6 West Liberty and 19 points against No. 4 DBU.
It’s the Sharks. It’s the Toros. It’s the NCAA Division II National Championship. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EST at the Ford Center. The game will be available on CBS, check your local listings. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men’s Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MBasketball.
