BOX SCORE

SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men’s basketball team (12-8, 5-5 SSC) overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half to defeat the Saint Leo Lions (10-11, 1-10 SSC), 70-66, Saturday evening at The Bowman Center.

Teddy Tassy (Jr., Boca Raton, Fla.) had the most efficient offensive performance of his career, with a career-high 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting. Tassy also nailed four free throws, twice his average amount of attempts per game. As the Sharks made their comeback in the final eight minutes, Tassy compiled 17 points, six rebounds, three steals, and three assists.

Senior John Brooks (Riverside, Calif.) scored all of his 15 points in the second half to spark the Sharks for its fifth SSC win.

NSU hit eight from behind the arc in the final 20 minutes, compared to two in the first.

After leading Saint Leo for most of the first half, the Lions came back in the final three minutes and held NSU scoreless and take an 31-24 lead into the locker room.

Forward and starter Robert Huntington (Jr., Perth, Australia) was the Sharks leading scorer the first 20 minutes with eight points, adding two blocks.

With 5:10 remaining in the first, Huntington hit his free-throw to convert the three point play and give the Sharks a 22-17 lead.

Quentin Cullop from Saint Leo hit four three’s in the first half to help the Lions even the score 24-24 with 2:00 minutes left.

The Sharks were only 9-for-33 (27.3 percent) in the first half and 2-for-8 (25.0 percent) from behind the arc.

In the second half, Saint Leo looked to put the game out of reach for NSU taking a substantial 16 point lead with 8:15 remaining. Brooks was the only scorer for NSU as he tallied the first nine points of the half for the Sharks in six minutes of play.

The Sharks went on a 9-0 run and with 6:34 left and NSU was within two baskets of tying the game.

Stumbling a bit, Saint Leo went on a run of its own and went back up by double-digits, 58-48, with 5:40 remaining.

Brooks had two crucial hustle plays that resulted in steals and in result the Sharks started to cut the Lions lead and eventually sliced the lead to one basket with four minutes left in regulation.

Brooks hit a three with a minute remaining to give the Sharks a two-point lead.

Saint Leo would even it back up on their next possession on a layup but could not take the lead as Nate Johnson failed to convert the three-point play.

After Tassy hit both from the charity stripe and take a two-point lead, 68-66, NSU looked to its defense to maintain the lead.

With Saint Leo being one of the worst in the league in free-throws, Johnson missed both with 18 seconds left.

The Lions only strategy left was to foul but Tassy made them pay hitting both on the other end, extending the Sharks lead by two baskets.

SLU missed its final shot and Tassy held on to the rebound as the clock ticked to zero.

After losing three straight games against the top three teams in the league, the Sharks overcame a night in which they shot 32 percent (21-for-65). Outside of Tassy, the Sharks only made a quarter of their field goals.

The Sharks made up for their shooting by collecting a season-high 20 offensive rebounds and forcing 19 Saint Leo turnovers. They also held Matt Kendrick, the Lions' leading scorer, to seven points.

Nova Southeastern will continue SSC play on the road as they travel to Melbourne, Fla. to battle Florida Tech on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m.