Box Score
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team kicked off the 2010-11 season on a bright note as they defeated the Warner Royals Friday night at home, 85-83. The Sharks played in front of 708 fans at the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center, the largest single-game crowd in program history.
Alex Gynes (Sr., Nowra Australia) led the Sharks (1-0) in a tough battle against their old Sun Conference rival. He had a career-best night, setting his career-highs with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Robert Huntington (Jr., Perth Australia) followed behind with 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the field.
Warner came out early and silenced NSU’s crowd by creating a five point lead in the opening minutes. The Sharks answered back with a 9-2 run to get back in the game. Over the rest of the first half, neither team could create more than a four point lead. Both teams were firing on all cylinders offensively as each squad shot over 50% during the first period.
The Sharks stayed with the Royals in the first half by knocking down six three-pointers in the first 20 minutes.
Teddy Tassy (Jr., Boca Raton, Fla.) led the way with eight points and a perfect three-point percentage.
The Royals rebuilt their biggest lead of the game at the start of the second half as they went up 56-51 with 16 minutes remaining. The Sharks slowly crept back into the lead as the half played out. They did not take over the game until the two minute mark when Gynes finished a layup despite being fouled to put his team ahead, 80-73.
With the clock winding down the Royals caught the NSU defense off guard with two three-pointers and two jumper, putting them down 85-83 with nine seconds remaining. With the final possession, Warner went for the win but came up short as Brennan Taylor missed a three-pointer from the left side. After only two field goals in the first half,
Lemar Dyer (Sr., Miami, Fla.) and
John Brooks (Sr., Perris, Calif.) came up big with a combined 16 points in the final half.
The Sharks will get a short rest before returning to their home court Monday, Nov. 15 to take on Johnson & Wales at 7:30 p.m.
