FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Facing a Tampa team that dressed only eight players, No. 8 Nova Southeastern dominated from start to finish Saturday en route to a 130-76 victory in Sunshine State Conference action. Four players reached the 20-point mark as the Sharks shot a collective 65.5 percent from the field in the effort.
Eddie Puisis led the way, matching a season high with 22 points to go along with
Shane Hunter's season high of 21 in just 18 minutes off the bench, extending NSU's current win streak to five in the process.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: No. 8 Nova Southeastern 130, Tampa 76
Records: No. 8 Nova Southeastern (15-2, 9-2 SSC), Tampa (5-14, 2-9 SSC)
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Twitter - @NSU_MBasketball | Instagram - @NSU_MBasketball
HOW IT HAPPENED:
1
st Half | After being held to just 81 points in the first meeting with the Spartans, the Sharks lit up the scoreboard for 75 in the first half alone Saturday. On the receiving end of a friendly bounce, Hunter connected from beyond the arc to hand the Sharks an early 12-6 advantage.
RJ Sunahara found
Nick Smith for a transition three to run the margin to 17-6 before it reached 24-10 just over six minutes into the contest after
Matt Weir drilled a triple off a feed from
Mark Matthews. The score sat at 27-12 following a Tampa lay-up, yet the Sharks would hold the Spartans scoreless for the ensuing 5:09, as they rattled off an incredible 24-0 run over that span.
Connor Zinaich tallied two of his 20 points on the night to cap the run, pushing NSU across the 50-point mark still with 8:15 to play in the half. Zinaich finished a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, while Puisis drilled three triples in the first half, including one in the final minute to send the Sharks into the locker room on top 75-32.
2
nd Half | Holding onto the 43-point lead, NSU started the second half a bit lackadaisical, tallying only six points through the first 6:34. A Sunahara bucket would reenergize the Sharks, though, as the offense returned to form. An old-fashioned, three-point play by Zinaich pushed the margin back above 40, which is where it remained following a Sunahara tip slam midway through the half. Well in command, Puisis helped the Sharks reach triple digits for the 11
th time already this season still with 9;27 showing on the clock. From there, head coach
Jim Crutchfield was able to empty the bench, with NSU setting the new program mark for largest margin of victory in an SSC ball game.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- In addition to breaking the record for largest margin of victory in an SSC contest, the Sharks also set a new record for most points in an SSC affair (130).
- NSU's bench outscored Tampa's entire team in the first half (37-32).
- Eleven players tallied at least one made field goal in the win.
- No player recorded more than 21 minutes for the Sharks on Saturday.
STATS OF THE NIGHT:
- The Sharks' 76 points in the paint matched Tampa's entire output for the game.
- NSU finished the contest with a 78-7 advantage in bench points.
- NSU forced 27 turnovers Saturday, including 20 in the first half.
- Matthews once again flirted with a triple double, collecting 20 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
- Smith (13) and Lukas Speidel (10) also scored in double figures, giving the Sharks six players to reach the mark in the victory.
UP NEXT:
NSU will be off during the week, but will return to action next Saturday at home against Saint Leo. The Sharks defeated the Lions in the season's first meeting 92-77 back in early December. For complete coverage of the action, visit the
schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_MBasketball.
