FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men's basketball team was felled by a hot-shooting Saint Leo team from long range, with a final score of 80-61 on Saturday evening from the NSU Arena.
 
Midway through the first half, the Sharks (7-10, 3-6 SSC) scored nine straight to cut what was once a 13-point deficit to the Lions (12-7, 5-4 SSC) down to four, but that lead was extended back out largely on the visitors' 3-point shooting efforts, making four in the final five minutes to take a 15-point lead into the locker room.
 
The barrage didn't let up in the second half, as six more Lion 3-pointers hit the bottom of the net. It was only a 12-point margin with 6:52 to go, but a 13-3 run pretty well put the game away.

"Saint Leo played well," said head coach Gary Tuell. "On days when they shoot it well they're a dynamite team. I think their defense is underrated. With their quickness and with the physical presence of all their bigs, they make it very difficult to score. I really enjoy watching their team play."
 
Harrison Goodrick (Jr., Sydney, Australia) posted his fourth double-double of the season, scoring 16 and coming just a rebound shy of his personal best with 14, including six offensive. He was joined in double digits by Troy Spears (So., Martinsville, Ind.) with 10, while Dwayne Gibson Jr. (Fr., Indianapolis, Ind.) was only a bucket shy of that mark with eight.

"Harrison Goodrick really battled hard for us," said Tuell. "He takes a physical beating every game. Defenders flop against him. Defenders bump him, slap him, hit him across the arms, body up on him and do everything they can to make his life miserable. But we're just happy he's playing for us."

In his return, Chris Page (Sr., Plainfield, Ind.) added seven, while Casey Carroll (R-Jr., Youngstown, Ohio) and Nick Pendergast (Sr., Bridgewater, Conn.) each had five points and four rebounds.
 
Tyreece Brice led Saint Leo off the bench with 26 points and nine rebounds, making four of the team's 15 3's. Marcus Dewberry had 11 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
 
"We were physically and mentally exhausted," said Tuell. "This was our fifth game in 11 days and our third game in six days, and it was (Saint Leo's) first game since last Saturday. It was pretty obvious which team was rested and had their legs under them and which team didn't. Our guys wanted to play hard. They were excited about the game, and they had the desire and the will. But they played most of the game like we were in a fog. Hopefully we'll get some rest tomorrow and get our edge back in time for practice Monday."
 
Next time out, NSU looks for a season sweep of Lynn, taking on the Fighting Knights on the road Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. The Sharks opened up this year's conference schedule all the way back on Nov. 21 by defeating Lynn, 88-84.