FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Led by a game-high 22 points from Eddie Puisis, the Nova Southeastern bench combined for 67 points, as the fifth-ranked Sharks overcame an early seven-point deficit to roll past No. 23 Dominican (N.Y.) 108-87 on Saturday evening at the Rick Case Arena. The second unit ignited the Sharks following an especially slow defensive start, but highlighted by the play of Puisis and Connor Zinaich, NSU soon built a double-digit lead midway through the first half and never looked back. Puisis and Zinaich were two of four NSU players to finish the night in double figures, while Mark Matthews collected 18 points in an efficient effort to go along with Jake Maranville's 11.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: No. 5 Nova Southeastern 108, No. 23 Dominican (N.Y.) 87
Records: No. 5 Nova Southeastern (8-1), No. 23 Dominican (N.Y.) (9-2)
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
1^st Half | NSU had no answer for the Chargers in the early going, as the visitors hit seven of their first eight shot attempts to build a 17-10 cushion just over four minutes into the contest. The Sharks would limit Dominican to only 16 points the rest of the half, however, and in the process, turned the deficit into a 24-point lead at the break. Trailing by two at the first media timeout, NSU head coach Jim Crutchfield substituted the entire starting five, and quickly watched his club climb in front following a Puisis pull-up jumper and a three-point make by freshman Shane Hunter. Still in front by four just moments later, the wave of three's continued after Puisis buried a deep trey before an RJ Sunahara steal and feed on the ensuing possession led to another triple by the sweet-shooting lefty. The double-digit advantage hit 16 at the 5:12 mark thanks to one of Maranville's three three-pointers in the contest. Mikkel Kolstad then found Maranville again from beyond the arc, eventually sending the Sharks into the locker room on top 57-33.

2^nd Half | The Sharks couldn't quite keep the 60.5 percent shooing rate going in the second half, yet the numbers didn't slide much, as NSU still connected on 55.6 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes. The Chargers opened the half on a 6-0 spurt until a Lukas Speidel three stopped the mini run with 18:28 to play. An old-fashioned, three-point play by Nick Smith built the lead to 25, which is where it would remain following a Mark Matthews lay-in still with 13:12 showing on the clock. NSU kept its foot on the gas, and remained ahead by 21 after a Maranville tip-in. Leading 99-77 down the stretch, another lay-up by Matthews pushed the Sharks over the century mark for the fifth time this season before Crutchfield finally pulled the starters in the final three minutes of the ball game.  

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Saturday marked the first ranked win for the Sharks in 2019-20, and sixth overall during the regular season under Crutchfield.
• NSU has now tallied at least 50 points in 12 of a possible 18 halves of basketball this season.

STATS OF THE NIGHT:

• NSU dominated the glass, winning the rebound battle by a 43-26 margin.
• Smith attempted just two shots in the effort, yet racked up a game-high seven assists while failing to turn the ball over.

UP NEXT:
NSU will return to the floor in the new year on Jan.2 when it hosts Eckerd in a Sunshine State Conference showdown. For complete coverage of the action, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_MBasketball.