Box Score

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team (9-4, 2-1 SSC) won its sixth straight game by defeating the Saint Leo Lions (9-4, 1-3 SSC) at the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center Saturday, 77-61.

The Sharks were led by Teddy Tassy (Jr., Boca Raton, Fla.) who tied his career-high with 18 points on 5-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc. He also collected two offensive rebounds and knocked down three free throws. Alex Gynes (Sr., Nowra, Australia) had another solid day, scoring 17 points and corralling a game-high nine rebounds. He also had a career-high five steals.

The Sharks did not take a big lead at the start of the game as the Lions brought the fight to the home team. Neither team could take a significant lead over the first 11 minutes but NSU eventually created an eight point first half lead thanks to timely three-point baskets. Tassy scored 12 points in the first half on 4-for-5 shooting from downtown. Tassy’s three-point accuracy was the difference in the first half as the Sharks entered the break with a six point lead.

Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor in the first half but the Sharks drained eight treys and forced nine turnovers. Gynes shot 4-for-6 from the floor in the first half, good for 10 points, and pulled down a team-high five boards.

The Sharks came out stronger in the second half and took a double-digit lead with 16 minutes left in the game. Two minutes later the Sharks would go up 49-34 thanks to a bucket by Lukas Roesch (So., Sugar Grove, Ohio). Roesch finished the game with seven points on 50 percent shooting. 

The Lions cut the lead to as low as six points but never took control of the game. The Sharks took a 16 point lead with two minutes to go and cruised to victory.

After foul trouble kept him off the court for most of the first half, Lemar Dyer (Sr., Miami, Fla.) had an excellent second period with eight points and six rebounds. He went 4-for-4 at the free throw line, extending his free throws made streak to 24. He has not missed a foul shot since Dec. 4.

John Brooks (Sr., Perris, Calif.) continued his hot shooting from beyond the arc, scoring 11 points and knocking down three treys out of six. Brooks has converted on 40 three-pointers out of 81 attempts this season. He is on pace for 85 three-pointers made this year, the second most in NSU history.

Robert Huntington (Jr., Perth, Australia) scored eight points on 5-for-9 shooting and pulled down eight rebounds, one short of his career-high.

The Sharks will play their sixth straight home game this Wednesday, Jan. 12 against Barry at 7:30 p.m.