BOX SCORE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team (1-1) ended the 2011 NSU Tip-Off Classic with a victory over the Valdosta State Blazers (1-1), 88-77, Sunday at the NSU Arena in the Don Taft University Center.

Teddy Tassy (Sr., Port-au-Prince, Haiti) and Lukas Roesch (Jr., Sugar Grove, Ohio) combined for 45 points and 14 rebounds in the win. Tassy scored 22 points on 6-for-9 shooting and Roesch scored a career-high 23 points on 8-for-18 shooting. Iran Hollis (Jr., Hollywood, Fla.) earned the team’s first double-double of the season, bringing down a game-high 11 rebounds and scoring 10 points. 

The first half was an even contest as neither team ever broke out to a significant lead. Valdosta State led by as much as four points in the half but the home squad never allowed the Blazers to pull away. The Sharks started the game a bit cold from the floor but closed strong, draining eight of their last 13 first-half shots. That run allowed the Sharks to pull out a six point lead headed into the break, 37-31.

Roesch scored in double digits before the break with 10 points on 4-for-10 shooting. Hollis came close to sealing a double-double before halftime with eight points and nine boards. He would reach double-digit rebounds within the first minute of the second half.

The halftime break did not kill NSU’s momentum as the Sharks continued to build on their lead. NSU started the second half on a 17-5 run and posted their first 20-point lead of the game with 11:30 left on the clock. The Blazers took a big hit right after falling behind by 20 as Josh Sparks fouled out with over 10 minutes left. Sparks had a team-high 11 points when he exited the game.

The Blazers, who had an obvious size advantage entering the half, were forced to give up their biggest advantage by going small halfway through the second period. The lineup change kept the Sharks from increasing their lead but was not strong enough to make a run. However, the Sharks faced trouble late in the contest when Hollis fouled out and Roesch picked up his fourth foul with five minutes remaining. With the Sharks’ depleted roster, the team was forced to take a chance and play Roesch for the remainder of the game.

Valdosta State cut its deficit to single digits (69-58) with just over three minutes left in the game. The Sharks fought off the comeback with hot shooting from behind the arc, hitting three straight triples after starting 1-for-11 from 3-point range. The hot shooting fended off the opposition as the Blazers ran out of time in their 11-point loss.

The Sharks won the game with an efficient offensive scoring performance. Despite going 4-for-14 from 3-point range, NSU shot 59 percent from within the arc. The Sharks reached the free throw line consistently, converting on 30 out of 43 shots at the line.

Newcomers Sean Mullan (Jr., Mangerton, Australia) and Tim Traversa  (Jr., Chicago, Ill.) each played well in their second straight starts, combining to shoot 10-for-16 from the floor. Mullan scored 14 points while Traversa finished with 13.

The Sharks will make their first road trip of the year as they travel to West Palm Beach, Fla. to face Northwood on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.

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