LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Southern certainly didn't make it easy, yet No. 3 Nova Southeastern made the timely plays down the stretch to remain perfect on the season following an 83-73 victory on the road Saturday night. After leading by as many as 15, the Sharks saw the margin trimmed to just two with 4:22 to play. A big night from Sekou Sylla that included 28 points and 10 rebounds, along with an impressive second half from veteran point guard Nick Smith, proved to be enough, though, as NSU now moves to 15-0 on the season.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: No. 3 Nova Southeastern 83, Florida Southern 73
Records: No. 3 Nova Southeastern (15-0, 9-0 SSC), Florida Southern (6-11, 3-6 SSC)
Location: George W. Jenkins Field House | Lakeland, Fla.
Get Social: Twitter - @NSU_MBasketball | Instagram - @NSU_MBasketball

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1^st Half | Tarik McKelphin kept the Mocs in the contest throughout and helped the home team gather an early 8-2 advantage following two three-point makes in the opening minutes. NSU settled in nicely, though, as the first half wore on, and grabbed its first lead of the night at 13-12 after a corner jumper by Eddie Puisis. A scoop shot in the lane by Kobe Rodgers stretched the cushion to 19-14 before a nice, high-low pass from Shane Hunter to RJ Sunahara for a reverse lay-in made it a 27-20 lead at the 10:07 mark. McKelphin's 15 first-half points allowed the Mocs to stay within striking distance, although the Sharks would respond and reopen a nine-point edge after a steal by Smith resulted in an easy two for Sunahara on the other end. A lob from Smith to Sunahara handed the Sharks their first double-digit lead of the night at 42-31 with 3:13 remaining, with NSU eventually entering the halftime break firmly in front, 48-34.

2^nd Half | FSC showed some renewed life coming out of the locker room and pulled back to within six thanks to consecutive three-point makes by E.J. Dambreville. A driving finish by Rodgers would end the Mocs' spurt, but Dambreville answered right back with another triple to trim the margin to 54-49 with 15:20 to play. FSC soon made it a one-possession ball game until Smith's first made bucket of the night thwarted the run, as the Sharks would counter with a 6-0 stretch of their own to regain a nine-point lead. The margin remained nine with 7:38 showing on the clock after Hunter found Puisis on a back-door cut. Still, McKelphin and the Mocs battled back and forced a 72-70 game following a three from the top of the key. With the game tightening, Smith kept NSU calm, delivering a much-needed assist to a cutting Sunahara to give the Sharks a five-point cushion with just under four minutes left. Sylla muscled in two of his 28 to further the lead to seven down the stretch, as the Sharks put the clamps down defensively and eventually salted the game away at the free throw line.   

STATS OF THE NIGHT:

• Sylla's 28 points led three NSU players in double figures, with Sunahara and Rodgers chipping in with 16 and 11, respectively.
• Smith scored all nine of his points in the second half, adding five rebounds, six assists and a season-high seven steals.
• The Sharks controlled the paint, outscoring the Mocs 44-22 inside.
• NSU forced FSC into 24 turnovers in the victory.
• The Sharks held the Mocs to just 40.6 percent shooting from the field.
• NSU's 83 points are the fewest in a game since scoring a season-low 79 on Dec. 4 at Eckerd.

UP NEXT:
Following two straight games on the road, NSU will return home to take on Saint Leo next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. For complete coverage of the action, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_MBasketball.