Box Score BOX SCORE
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team (2-0) advanced to the championship round of the 2012 NSU Thanksgiving Classic, defeating the Goldey-Beacom Lighting (1-4), 87-85, Friday at the NSU Arena in the Don Taft University Center.
The Sharks pulled out to a big lead in the first half and looked to have full control of the contest. However, the Lighting found their shot in the second half and led by three points on multiple occasions. NSU was able to hold the opposition back down the stretch, and finished the game shooting 21-for-26 from the free throw line to hold on to a two-point victory.
Iran Hollis (Sr., Hollywood, Fla.) led the team with 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting. He was also the Sharks’ leading rebounder at 10 boards, half of which were on offense.
Stian Berg (So., Baerum, Norway) was the Sharks’ leader in assists with four. Berg also chipped in 13 points on 3-for-4 shooting.
The Sharks led for the majority of the game and initially established their lead by starting off on an 8-0 run. The Sharks would float around their eight point lead for the majority of the half, despite the Lightning shooting 50 percent from the floor.
The Sharks came out of the gate strong again in the second half and led by as much as 14 points with 18 minutes left to play. However, Goldey-Beacom found their groove and torched the Sharks for 28 points over a 13 minute span, taking a 64-61 lead. With 5:54 left on the clock, Hollis checked back in and scored 11 of his team’s final 26 points. He nailed five free throws over the final minute of the game to close the show.
Although the Sharks shot at a lower percentage than the hot-shooting Lighting, NSU created several second chance opportunities. The home squad doubled Goldey-Beacom’s amount of offensive rebounds, at 18-9. Nearly half of that count came from the Sharks’ deep bench play.
Justin Jeangerard (So., Weaverville, Calif.) shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor and finished the night with 14 points.
Jacob Reed (Jr., Perth, Australia) made his mark in the second half, with six of his eight points coming in the final 20 minutes.
Garrett Frick (So., Pacific Palisades, Calif.) ended his night with eight rebounds and seven points.
The Sharks will face Charleston for the NSU Thanksgiving Classic Championship on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
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