FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - How sweet it is. For the fourth consecutive season, the top-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men's Basketball team will play in the NCAA South Region Championship with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line. The Sharks (29-2) will face a familiar foe, taking on Sunshine State Conference rival Florida Southern (23-9) on Tuesday evening at the Rick Case Arena.
The third match-up of the season, the first in the NCAA Tournament, between the Sharks and Moccasins will have the most on the line. During the 2023-24 campaign, the SSC foes split their regular season contests and Florida Southern was responsible for ending Nova Southeastern's NCAA Division II record of 62 consecutive regular season wins. In the most recent match-up, the Sharks defeated Florida Southern 93-63.
The Sharks have won their last 63 contests at the Rick Case Arena, dating back to February 2020.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
No. 1 Nova Southeastern
Quarterfinals – (1) No. 1 Nova Southeastern 115 | (8) Benedict 95
NSU began the NCAA Tournament with a 20-point win over the eighth-seeded Benedict Tigers. 12 Sharks scored double digit points, including 20 points from All-Sunshine State Conference and D2CSC First-Team member Shane Hunter. Alex Mangold added a double-double off the bench for NSU, scoring 11 points and recording 12 rebounds. NSU turned the tide in the game with a 32-3 run over the final six minutes of the first half.
Semifinals - (1) No. 1 Nova Southeastern 81 | (5) Embry-Riddle 73
Opening the game on a 13-0 run, the effort was enough to lead Nova Southeastern to the victory over the Eagles. MJ Iraldi scored a game-high 22 points, while Isaiah Fuller, a second-team All-Sunshine State Conference honoree, added 14 points. The NSU defense limited Embry-Riddle's tandem of Cameron Shockley-Okeoke and Malcom Whitlow to 3-13 from beyond the arc, after a performance where the duo combined for 57 points and 16 three-pointers.
Florida Southern
Quarterfinals - (3) Florida Southern 80 | (6) Clark Atlanta 72
Led by 17 points, six blocks and three steals by the Sunshine State Conference defensive Player of the Year Alex Steen and 15 points from the SSC Player of the Year Luke Anderson, the Mocs were able to hold off the Panthers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. FSC gained the lead with 7:44 remaining in the game and outscored Clark Atlanta 17-11 down the stretch to finish the victory.
Semifinals - (3) Florida Southern 93 | (2) No. 13 West Georgia 87 (OT)
The Mocs turned in second consecutive gritty performance, outlasting and upsetting 13th ranked West Georgia in overtime to punch their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen. Four of the Moccasins six scorers went for double figures with Akol Arop at 24, Anderson and Dominick Denny both at 19, and Erickson Bans with 15. Steen contributed nine while Joe Moon IV added seven in nine minutes of action.
The Sharks will put their 63-game home winning streak on the line with a spot in the Elite Eight to the victor of tonight's game between No. 1 Nova Southeastern and Florida Southern. To purchase tickets for the NCAA South Region Championship, click here. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Rick Case Arena. To stay up-to-date on Sharks throughout their tournament run, be sure to follow on Instagram and X at NSU_MBasketball.
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