WINTER PARK, Fla. – Freshman Malik Hardy poured in 19 of his game-high 30 points in the second half as Nova Southeastern overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to lead by eight with 9:02 to play. However, Rollins would battle back on its home court and hit the go-ahead bucket with only 19 seconds remaining before holding off the Sharks for the eventual 78-75 win in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament quarterfinal round on Wednesday. Nova Southeastern had a chance to tie in the waning moments, but a David Dennis three-point field goal from just in front of half court drifted off the mark as the final buzzer sounded on what was an exciting, back-and forth ball game down the stretch.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Rollins 78, Nova Southeastern 75
Records: Rollins (16-13), Nova Southeastern (17-10)
Location: Warden Arena | Winter Park, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
1st Half | Rollins' Jeff Merton connected on his first four three-point attempts to push the Tars out to a quick 16-8 advantage in the early going. The Sharks soon settled into the rhythm of the ball game, though, and ripped off nine straight points, including a Hardy three-point play to give Nova Southeastern its first lead at 17-16. However, the Sharks' one-point edge wouldn't last long as they soon watched themselves go 6:23 without converting a field.goal. Still, despite the struggles, Nova Southeastern leaned on its 9-of-11 shooting at the line to hang around down 39-31 at the break.

2nd Half | Following an 0-for-6 effort from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes, Nick Smith canned the Sharks' first trey of the night to pull them back even at 45-45. Moments later, Gerard Tarin split a pari at the charity stripe to put Nova Southeastern back in front for the first time since the 10:30 mark of the first half, a stretch spanning over 17 minutes. As part of an 11-4 spurt, back-to-back three's by Smith and Hardy helped that slim lead grow to 62-54 midway through the half. Just as the Sharks seem poised to take full control, though, Rollins pulled back to within a deuce on a triple by Eric Castaneda. Knotted at 68-68 with 4:34 to go, both sides would trade leads three times until Hardy forced a deadlock at 73-73 following his second triple of the contest. On the ensuing possession, however, Tars' point guard Connor McKim answered with the eventual go-ahead lay-in before Rollins managed to preserve the victory at the line.