FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Keyed by a hectic 18-0 run in the final 2:20 of the first half, No. 5 Nova Southeastern built a 28-point cushion at the break en route to an eventual 117-79 rout of Ave Maria on Tuesday. RJ Sunahara posted a game-high 25 points to go along with 23 from Sekou Sylla, while the defense forced a program-record 37 turnovers to help the Sharks improve to a perfect 8-0 on the season.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: No. 5 Nova Southeastern 117, Ave Maria 79
Records: No. 5 Nova Southeastern (8-0), Ave Maria (9-3)
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Twitter - @NSU_MBasketball | Instagram - @NSU_MBasketball

HOW IT HAPPENED:
1^st Half | The Sharks tallied the game's first five points, and jumped out to a quick 11-4 advantage following a Shane Hunter lay-in. However, despite the fast start, NSU failed to shake the Gyrenes, as its lead sat at a modest 31-27 with 9:04 remaining in the opening half. A three-point play by Sylla, who matched Sunahara with 15 points in the first frame, stretched the margin to seven before it grew to nine on Sunahara's own three-point play at the 6:38 mark. Ave Maria hung around, trailing by 10 with 2:20 to go, until the Sharks deflated the Gyrenes down the stretch. Kick-started by four straight Sunahara free throws, and a Hunter transition dunk, NSU rattled off 18 unanswered points over the final two-plus minutes to blow a 10-point contest into a 69-41 lead entering the locker room. During the overwhelming stretch, NSU shot 3-of-4 from the field and 10-of-10 from the line, while limiting Ave Maria to 0-of-3 shooting to go with seven forced turnovers.

2^nd Half | The Sharks kept their foot on the gas until the midway point before head coach Jim Crutchfield decided to pull his starters. A Kobe Rodgers steal led to a Sylla fastbreak slam that kept NSU in front by 28 less than four minutes into the half. NSU made a living on the inside with 58 points in the paint, yet ran its lead to 88-54 following a Mike Moore three-pointer with a little over 12 minutes left. Another three, this time by Tommy Sala, pushed the margin to its largest of the night at 109-69, as the Sharks notched their third straight victory with 100-plus points.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Following a 16-point effort by Eddie Puisis, NSU now has six players averaging double-figure scoring.
• After forcing a program-record 37 turnovers Tuesday, the Sharks have now forced 30-plus turnovers in four of their last five games.
• NSU has yet to win a game this season by fewer than 11 points.

STATS OF THE NIGHT:

• Sylla turned in his fifth double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 boards.
• In addition to his season-high 25 points, Sunahara recorded eight rebounds, five assists, four blocks and four steals. The forward also shot a perfect 9-of-9 at the free throw line.
• NSU finished with a whopping 53 points off turnovers in the win.
• Nick Smith registered six steals for the third consecutive contest.
• Alongside Puisis, Sala chipped in with 11 points off the bench.

UP NEXT:
The Sharks will face a quick turnaround when they square off against Georgian Court at home this Thursday at 6 p.m. For complete coverage of the action, visit the schedule page on NSUSharks.com or follow the Sharks on Twitter @NSU_MBasketball.