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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Coming off a road win against Lynn on Wednesday, Jan. 19, the Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team (11-5, 4-2 SSC) will face one of its toughest tests of the season Saturday, Jan. 22 when they host the No. 12 Tampa Spartans in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center at 4 p.m.

The Sharks returned to their winning ways this past Wednesday against Lynn in one of the more bizarre games of the season. The Sharks scored a season-low 25 points in the first half against the Fighting Knights on 10-for-28 shooting from the floor. They shot 33 percent from three-point range in that half, a seaon-low. In the second half, the Sharks shot 58 percent (14-for-24) and made all 21 of their free throw attempts. After trailing by six points at the half, the Sharks would go on to win, 78-69.

“Anytime you win on the road in this league it’s a huge plus,” said head coach Gary Tuell. “Our guys did a good job of competing and doing what we asked of them. We had to make a few adjustments at halftime at both ends of the floor. Give credit to the guys for going out and executing and doing the things we needed to do to beat a Lynn team that is playing much better than their record indicates. Scott McMillin does a great coaching job every year. They’ve had so many injuries and close losses, like their one-point defeat at Florida Southern Saturday (Jan. 15). But they are always tough and always a factor in the conference race. When you beat a Lynn team at Lynn you should feel good about yourselves because nothing is easy there.”

The Sharks have no time to celebrate their first road victory in Sunshine State Conference play as they now face Tampa, Florida Southern, and Rollins all in succession. The Sharks currently hold sole possession of fourth place in the conference, with their next three opponents ahead of them.

“Our guys are too young to know anything about the old New York Yankee baseball team, and the Australian players wouldn’t know Babe Ruth from Dr. Ruth,” said Tuell. “But facing Tampa, Florida Southern and Rollins in successive games is the equivalent of a pitcher facing the old Yankee Murderer’s Row. When you face those three teams you can’t make every game a life-and-death situation because if you do, you’re going to be dead a lot. But this is certainly our chance to join the mix at the top of the league. Opportunity is knocking and we’ll find out if our guys are ready to answer the door.”

The Tampa Spartans earned their top 15 national ranking by winning 16 straight games before finally being stopped this past Wednesday against Florida Southern. The Spartans were plowing through the SSC before Wednesday, dropping 86 points on Rollins and defeating then nationally ranked Eckerd on the Tritons’ home floor. However, Tampa has looked beatable during their run, beating NAIA member Florida Memorial by only five points and needing overtime to get past Palm Beach Atlantic in January.

“Tampa will bring a stingy defense led by a wonderful shot-blocking center in Fred Woods,” Tuell claims. “And they’ll bring a senior guard who has been a dominant player in our league for four years in Rashad Callaway. But they’re 16-1 because a lot of guys are contributing and playing well for them. Florida Southern spoiled their unbeaten season Wednesday night so I’m sure Coach Richard Schmidt will have their full attention in practice and preparation for us. After winning 16 straight, a loss can have a way of getting your focus back on the little things that made you special. And Tampa has been a special team this year.”

Reigning SSC Player of the Week Callaway is playing with the most talented teammates he’s had in his career. For the first time in his four year campaign he’s playing with a teammate who’s averaging over 15 points per game (Anthony Griffis) and a teammate who is averaging over nine rebounds a game (Woods). The result has been Tampa’s program-record setting 16 straight wins.

The Sharks will give Tampa their greatest challenge in defending the three-point line. The Spartans rank first in the SSC in three-point defense, holding opponents to 28 percent from behind the arc. However, the Sharks have shot better than 40 percent on three’s in 11 of 16 games and have shot less than 30 percent only once. John Brooks (Sr., Perris, Calif.) will be crucial to the Sharks Saturday as he has shot 48 percent on 100 three-point attempts this season.

Alex Gynes (Sr., Nowra, Australia) will also need to continue his strong play. Gynes has averaged 18.5 points per game this season and has scored over 20 points in three straight games. The Sharks will also depend on Lemar Dyer’s (Miami, Fla.) efficiency, as the senior guard has shot over 53 percent from the floor and made 34 straight free throws.

“At Lynn we got great contributions from everyone and we avoided the second-half slippage that has plagued us in some other games,” said Tuell. “We were much better in the second half against Lynn. All 10 guys who played had a hand in the win. We’ll need that same kind of effort on Saturday against Tampa.”

Fans can follow the Sharks via live video HERE and live stats HERE. Fans can also keep track of the game through the NSU Athletics Twitter Feed at www.twitter.com/NSUSharks.


Promotions: Fans and Students will have the opportunity, as in each and every home basketball game, to win $5 in Moe’s bucks just by answering a trivia question about Sharks basketball. Students just have to be in a lucky seat in section 105 and they will automatically earn $5 towards Moe’s.

At halftime of the game, fans, students and children are given a chance to win a gift card for a free frosty from Wendy’s just by hitting a free throw.

On the back of each game ticket is a coupon for 25% off at Geronimos Bar and Grill, which is located at the University Park Place right on campus.

The first 50 fans who walk in the door for the men’s game will receive and NSU Sharks water bottle and all fans will have the opportunity to win an NSU raffle prize bag.