MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men's basketball team used a blazing-hot first half and clutch free-throw shooting at the end to overcome Florida Tech's comeback attempt on Monday afternoon, winning 88-83 at the Clemente Center.
 
The Sharks (6-9, 2-5 SSC) made their first six – and nine of their first 11 – shots to take an early 24-10 lead. At that point too, they were 7-of-9 on 3-pointers. An Austin Marciniak (Fr., Uniontown, Ohio) '3' just before the halftime horn gave them their biggest lead at 50-34, the team's 12th make from behind the arc. At that point, sophomore guard Troy Spears (Martinsville, Ind.) was a flawless 6-for-6 from long range.
 
Florida Tech (10-7, 3-4 SSC) chipped away at the lead all throughout the second half, and a steal and breakaway layup with 2:03 remaining gave them their first lead, at 81-80. That would end up being the home team's only advantage, as the Sharks clamped down on defense down the stretch.
 
Harrison Goodrick (Jr., Sydney, Australia) hit both of his free throw attempts 23 seconds later, spurring the team towards eight of the game's last 10 points. The Sharks held FIT to a one-and-done on the next possession, and Dwayne Gibson Jr. (Fr., Indianapolis, Ind.) hit a turnaround hook shot just outside the lane to push the lead to three. Those two would combine for the final four points as well, all from the line, and Gibson's with 4.5 seconds left clinched the win.
 
Spears hit his first 3-pointer of the second half as well, making his first seven (and 7-of-8) in the game. His 23 points set a new career high, to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Goodrick too attained a new NSU career mark with 21 points, coming on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and a 9-of-11 mark from the line, and he added six boards and three assists.
 
Also in double digits was Gibson with 14, and a team-high eight rebounds, while Mike Chalas (Sr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Marciniak both scored nine, each knocking down three 3's. For the latter, it came on just three attempts, and he was the third Shark on Monday afternoon with a new career standard. As a team, NSU outrebounded their Panther counterparts 37-24, including 15 on the offensive end (led by Goodrick, Spears and Casey Carroll (R-Jr., Youngstown, Ohio) with three apiece).

"We needed this one," said head coach Gary Tuell. "I'm so happy for our guys. They've been working their rear ends off and keeping their heads up and grinding. We had so many guys who did a great job for us. Harrison Goodrick, Troy Spears, Mike Chalas, Dwayne Gibson, Austin Marciniak, BJ Edwards (So., Fort Myers, Fla.), Casey Carroll, Nick Pendergast (Sr., Woodbridge, Conn.) ... on and on and on. Everybody who played gave us a great effort."
 
All told, the squad shot 55.8 percent overall and 51.5 percent from beyond the arc. Their 17 makes from long range on Monday is a season high, and they also notched another season best from the charity stripe, shooting 88.2 percent (15-of-17).
 
FIT was led by Sam Daniel with 20 points, and Jordan Majors with 19.
 
The Sharks are right back on the road Wednesday night, taking on Tampa. Game time is at 7:30 p.m. on the tail end of the women's and men's doubleheader.

"This was best team effort by far," said Tuell. "Our guys did a great job sharing the ball, moving it and getting each other open. We were fun to watch. Our guys needed this game. It was a great confidence boost for our young players."