Box Score

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team (11-6, 4-3 SSC) took the No. 12 Tampa Spartans (17-1, 6-1 SSC) to overtime in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center but lost Saturday, 86-78.

Senior forward Alex Gynes (Sr., Nowra, Australia) led the Sharks with a team-high 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the floor. Gynes pulled down a team-best five rebounds, as did Teddy Tassy (Jr., Boca Raton, Fla.) who also scored 10 points.

The first half was an exciting period in which both teams shot around 50 percent from the floor. Neither team could gain a major advantage in the first half until the Sharks hit a short shooting slump in which the Spartans gained a seven point advantage. The Sharks erased the deficit with five straight buckets, including three-pointers from Tassy and Cody Dennison (So., Newark, Ohio). NSU entered the break down, 33-32.

With Gynes limited to eight minutes in the first half, Robert Huntington (Jr., Perth, Australia) picked up his team’s flag by shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor, good for seven points along with two assists. Huntington finished the game with 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting.

The Sharks had their most efficient shooting second half since their double-overtime game against Valdosta State, shooting 61 percent (14-for-23). However they allowed nine offensive rebounds which allowed Tampa to take 11 more shots than NSU. Tampa slowly took control of the second half and eventually built an eight point lead with less than six minutes in regulation.

Senior point guard Lemar Dyer (Sr., Miami, Fla.) sparked a comeback by reaching the free throw line and knocking down four straight free throws. Gynes also added six points during a 10-3 run that tied the game with just under three minutes remaining.

With 24 seconds on the clock, John Brooks (Sr., Perris, Calif.) hit a running floater that tied the game at 72 apiece. On the final possession of regulation, Ross Allsop (Sr., Sydney, Australia) made one of the most dramatic blocks of his career, and his 101st, to send the game into overtime.

Unfortunately, the Sharks could not muster up enough offense in the overtime period to pull through with the victory. They shot 0-for-4 from the field in the period, including three attempts from beyond the arc. The Sharks were outscored 14-6 in the period and took their second home loss of the season.

The Sharks finished the game outshooting the Spartans 52 percent to 44 percent. The discrepancy was equalized by Tampa’s 39 three-point attempts, in which the Spartans made 14. The Sharks were also outrebounded 40-29 and allowed 12 offensive rebounds. The Sharks also missed eight free throws and shot 65 percent from the line. They are now 0-5 when shooting below 70 percent from the floor.

Brooks finished the game with nine points and two assists. He also earned a career-best two steals for the 12th time over three seasons. Dyer ended with a team-high four assists and eight points. He stretched his free throws made streak to 38.

Dennison contributed eight points on 2-for-3 shooting and scored half of his team’s overtime points. Lukas Roesch (So., Sugar Grove, Ohio) added four rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

The Sharks will hit the road to face Florida Southern in Lakeland, Fla. this Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m.