FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - For the third-time in program history, the No. 1 ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men's Basketball team has punched their ticket to the NCAA Elite Eight, dominating Alabama-Huntsville 87-62 and winning the NCAA South Region Tournament. Will Yoakum led the Sharks with 33 points and tied the program record for three-pointers (9).
During the No. 1 Sharks run through the South Region Tournament - the closest game was the final against UAH, where NSU won by 25. The top-ranked Sharks average margin of victory was 32.6 in the three games.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Score – No. 1 Nova Southeastern 87 | Alabama-Huntsville 62
Records – No. 1 Nova Southeastern 33-0 | Alabama-Huntsville 27-8
Location – Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social – Instagram & Twittter – NSU_MBasketball | Facebook – NSU Men's Basketball
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half – The Sharks couldn't have asked for a better start to the regional title game, as Jonathan Pierre scored the first five points of the game and NSU led 7-0 in the first 50 seconds of the game. Yoakum hit back-to-back three-pointers, but UAH hung around and led 16-15 over the Sharks. The Charegers lead was short-lived, as Yoakum sparked an 11-2 run, scoring every point, and gave NSU the lead for good at 26-18. Yoakum hit three more three-pointers, closing the first half with eight, and sent the Sharks into the halftime break leading 49-28.
Second Half – Yoakum reached the 30-point plateau early in the second half, putting the Sharks ahead 57-33. Nova Southeastern continued to lead by over 20-points in the early minutes of the second-half. Dallas Graziani scored five consecutive points for NSU, as Nova Southeastern led 72-48. The Sharks punched the program's third ticket to the Elite Eight, defeating Alabama-Huntsville 87-62.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
The Sharks defense forced 16 turnovers in the victory and outscored the Chargers 20-4 off of turnovers.
NSU was unrelenting on the glass and outscored UAH 23-2 with second chance points.
The Sharks transition offense made an impact, outscoring the Chargers 21-7 on fast breaks.
UPCOMING
No. 1 Nova Southeastern has advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second consecutive season. The Sharks will find out their opponent following a re-seeding before the tournament.
