Box Score

VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team finished the Loop Pizza Grill Classic in dramatic fashion by pushing the Valdosta State Blazers to double overtime on their home floor in a 113-103 loss.

Senior Alex Gynes (Nowra, Australia) had his greatest statistical game Saturday night by setting career-highs with 30 points and 15 rebounds. Gynes shot 11-for-15 from the field and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Max Papendieck (Sr., Adelaide, Australia) followed suit with 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting.

The Sharks (3-4) had a solid first half in which they shot 55 percent from three-point range. They trailed for all but the first minute of the period but were able to tie the ball game before the break. Cody Dennison (So., Newark, Ohio) and Gynes paced the Sharks in the first half by shooting a combined 8-for-10 from the floor.

The second half was a back and forth battle as the lead changed hands 14 times. The Sharks held an eight point lead multiple times but never drove the nail into the Blazers’ (7-2) coffin. The Sharks gave up their lead with a minute left in regulation before Gynes tied the game at the foul line with 25 seconds left on the clock.

On the final possession of the half, Robert Huntington (Jr., Perth, Australia) went one-on-one defensively with the Blazers’ Kevin Harris and kept him from attempting a shot. Huntington finished the game with 14 points on 50 percent shooting with six rebounds.

The Sharks controlled the first overtime and led by as much as four points with 17 seconds remaining. The Sharks could not close out the home team as they missed four free throw shots within the final 30 seconds of the period. The Blazers’ Sydney Harris made a game-tying layup with four seconds remaining to set up a second overtime period.

The Sharks were not successful in the second overtime period as they shot 1-for-6 from the floor and allowed four second-chance points. The Sharks were outscored 14-4 in the second overtime to collect their fourth loss of the season.

Lukas Roesch (So., Sugar Grove, Ohio) collected 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting and eight rebounds. Roesch was key to the Sharks’ efforts in the second half as he made several second-chance buckets. Teddy Tassy (Jr., Boca Raton, Fla.) had a team-high four assists and shot 4-for-7 from the field.

The Sharks will return to the hardwood on Dec. 14 when they travel to St. Augustine, Fla. for a rematch with Flagler at 7:30 p.m.