FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – For the second consecutive season and third time in the last four seasons, the Sunshine State Conference regular season crown belongs to the second-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men's Basketball team. No. 2 NSU improves to 21-0, 14-0 SSC and completes the season sweep over Palm Beach Atlantic with a 96-66 victory on Wednesday evening from the Rick Case Arena.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 96, Palm Beach Atlantic 66
Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 21-0, 14-0 SSC | Palm Beach Atlantic 10-10, 6-8 SSC
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half – Nova Southeastern began the game on a 5-0 run, getting points from Jonathan Pierre, Kobe Rodgers and Will Yoakum, but the Sailfish responded with an 11-0 rally of their own and put the Sharks down 11-5 at the first media timeout. Trailing 14-9, NSU reclaimed the lead, and never looked back, following a 19-0 run – spanning three minutes of game action – to lead 28-14. Ryan Davis started the run and the Sharks followed with five, three-pointers, including back-to-back from Jonathan Pierre to cap the rally. Later in the half, Pierre's fourth three-pointer of the opening half extended the NSU advantage to 47-25. NSU went into the halftime break leading 55-35.

Second Half – The Sharks continued their firm grip on the momentum in the early minutes of the second half and Yoakum threw down a emphatic dunk off of a steal, putting Nova Southeastern in from 69-44. Two consecutive three-pointers from Jake Maranville and RJ Sunahara, followed by a lay-up from Rodgers, put the Sharks in front of the Sailfish 77-46. In the closing minutes of the contest, Shane Hunter threw down a monstrous slam, putting the finishing touches on Nova Southeastern's 21^st consecutive victory.

STATS OF THE NIGHT
Kobe Rodgers and Will Yoakum both recorded 20 points for the Sharks in the victory.
NSU's defense has continued to make an impact, totaling 13 steals and seven blocks, in addition to outscoring PBA 28-12 off turnovers.
Nova Southeastern is 49-2, including 36 consecutive wins, from the Rick Case Arena, dating back to the 2019-20 season.

UPCOMING
No. 2 Nova Southeastern will enjoy a weekend off, after clinching a share of the Sunshine State Conference regular season title, and will travel to take on Florida Tech in SSC action on Wednesday, February 8. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.