Box Score FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men's basketball team (4-4) fell to the West Texas A&M Buffs (6-4), 82-66, Thursday in the NSU Arena at the Don Taft University Center.
Harrison Goodrick (So., Sydney, Australia) nearly recorded a double-double Thursday with 12 rebounds and nine points. Nine of his rebounds were on the offensive end. The leading scorer was
Chris Page (Jr., Plainfield, Ind.), who dropped in 21 points, eight of which will be from the free throw line.
Justin Jeangerard (Sr., Weaverville, Calif.) added 16 points on 5-for-6 shooting and pulled down five rebounds.
The first half saw NSU take a 6-0 lead early off a par if Jeangerard 3-pointers. The Buffs answered back by scoring nine straight points, just before Page scored back-to-back baskets. The run gave NSU a 13-11 lead, the last of the game for the Sharks. A 9-2 run for WTAM would give the Buffs a lead they never gave up. Although the Sharks trailed the rest of the half, they stayed in the contest and kept the deficit to single digits, trailing 42-33 at the break.
The game would get away from the Sharks in the second half, as the Buffs shot lights out over the last 20 minutes. They shot 62 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range. To make matters worse, NSU would put the opposition in the bonus just three minutes into the half.
The Buffs took their largest lead of the game with 9:50 remaining in the game, up 69-48. The Sharks made a run late, reducing the deficit to 12 points on back-to-back 3-pointers with just under five minutes to go. However, The Buffs drained 3-pointers on their next two possessions to seal the game.
NSU finished the game shooting 37.7 percent (20-for-53) from the floor and 32 percent (8-for-25) from 3-point range. Although the offense was not in top form, NSU was hampered by a lack of stops on the opposite end. WTAM shot 54.7 percent (29-for-53) and 50 percent (12-for-24) from downtown. NSU did win the rebounding battle, 34-28, due to a season-best 18 offensive rebounds.
Troy Spears (Fr., Martinsville, Ind.) and
Brian Cahill (Sr., Arlington, Va.) each provided scoring off the bench, putting in seven and five, respectively.
NSU will return to the NSU Arena on Sunday to finish out the calendar year against Missouri St. Louis at 1 p.m.
