Box Score BOX SCORE
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team (6-3) returned from its holiday break and recorded a win over the Benedict Tigers (4-4), 63-59, Sunday at the NSU Arena in the Don Taft University Center.
Iran Hollis (Sr., Hollywood, Fla.) and
Brian Cahill (So., Arlington, Va.) led the Sharks to victory, combining to score 29 of the Sharks’ 63 points. Hollis earned a team-best 15 points and seven rebounds, while Cahill brought down a team-high eight boards and scored 14 points. Cahill and Hollis also recorded five and four steals, respectively.
Stian Berg (So., Baerum, Norway) earned a team-high five assists and scored 11 points, six of which came at the foul line.
"Both teams had a lot of rust from the holiday break and I think that showed in the way we both shot the ball," said head coach
Gary Tuell. "But both teams also played well defensively and that had something to do with the low shooting percentages as well."
The win gives the Sharks their best nine-game start in the last three seasons. The mark was achieved despite a schedule that includes two top-seven ranked teams, three reigning conference tournament winners and a road game against the Sunshine State Conference favorite, Saint Leo.
"I never dreamed we could be 6-3 at thus stage of the season considering our inexperience, lack of size and the changes we've made in our style of play," said Tull. "Hopefully we can continue to learn and grow and improve as we move into conference play. This is the most competitive and committed group of guys we've had here in a long, long time. Every day they give us good effort and every day they get a little better. Let's hope that continues."
The Sharks started slow offensively, but stayed strong on the defensive end to stay in the game in the first half. NSU opened the game shooting three for its first 18 shots, putting the home team in a 24-16 hole. The Sharks turned the game around by shooting 5-for-6 over the final four minutes on a 12-3 run. The boost gave the Sharks a one-point advantage at the break.
NSU started the second half on a 7-2 run, but Benedict was quick to take back the momentum. The Sharks were held to two points for a five and a half minute stretch, allowing Benedict to take a four-point lead with 12:20 left. The grey and blue did not let the game get away from them, and retook the lead, at 45-44, with six minutes left on an offensive board and two free throws from
Lukas Roesch (Sr., Sugar Grove, Ohio).
Each team traded shots down the stretch, but the Sharks would eventually take a five-point lead with just over a minute remaining. The Tigers made a strong push to retake the lead, and shrank their deficit to one point with 13 seconds left. The Sharks sealed the game when
Sean Mullan (Sr., Mangerton, Australia) sent a 20-yard inbounds pass to an open Cahill. Cahill attacked he basket on the fast break and made an “and-one” layup before clinching the game with a clutch free throw.
Hollis had a rough start to the game, but scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half.
"Iran Hollis had his worst half of the year in the first 20 minutes and he answered that like a true senior leader in the last 20 minutes," stated Tuell. "He put us on his back and carried us at both ends of the floor in the second half. He was terrific.
"Brian Cahill came up big and played perhaps his best overall game. I thought Stian Berg and
Justin Jeangerard (So., Weaverville, Calif.) were big for us, but everybody contributed. It was nice to see
Garrett Frick (So., Pacific Palisades, Calif.) give us a lift when he was in there. He needed that."
NSU had a rough shooting night, with a mark of 36 percent, but made up for it by bringing down 11 offensive rebounds and creating 27 free throw opportunities. NSU also won in the turnover column, 10-14.
Roesch finished the game with seven points, six rebounds and two assists. Jeangerard scored eight points and collected a pair of rebounds.
"It's a great win anytime you can beat a Fred Watson-coached Benedict team because they are always as well prepared and tough as an opponent can be," said Tuell. "That is a very talented, well-coached team with a ton of experienced players who have taken Benedict to the last two NCAA tournaments. I couldn't be prouder of our guys and the way they competed."
The Sharks will return to SSC play on Saturday, Jan. 5 to face Eckerd in St. Petersburg, Fla. at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcasted live on 640 Sports.
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