ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The No. 1 Nova Southeastern Men's Basketball team won its 26th game of the season on Wednesday evening, surviving a first-half scare and defeating Eckerd 88-78. The Sharks were led by 22 points from Will Yoakum, 18 points from Lukas Speidel and 17 points from Jonathan Pierre in the Sunshine State Conference Victory.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Records: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 26-0, 19-0 SSC | Eckerd 9-16, 6-13 SSC
Score: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 88, Eckerd 78
Location: McArthur Center | St. Petersburg, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half – The Sharks got out to a 5-2 lead with RJ Sunahara scoring all five points. After Eckerd tied the game, Will Yoakum hit a pullup three to put NSU up 8-5. Yoakum and Tomas Murphy both scored and extended Nova Southeastern's advantage to seven points. Eckerd battled back, lowering its deficit to one point before a layup from Yoakum ended the run. With just over 6 minutes remaining, the Tritons took the lead, but seven consecutive points from Jonathan Pierre regained a 22-20 advantage for the Sharks. Eckerd and Nova Southeastern battled back and forth, but points from Ryan Davis and Pierre helped NSU take a two-point lead. After the Tritons tied it up, Lukas Speidel (3), Yoakum (2) and Pierre (2) each contributed to getting the Sharks a 33-26 advantage. After a 10-0 run from Eckerd, Nova Southeastern would go into halftime trailing 34-36.

Second Half – Yoakum got the scoring started for the Sharks in the second half, absorbing contact on a tough layup. Sunahara made three free throws and a layup, lowering Eckerd's lead to eight with under 16 minutes remaining. Back-to-back three-pointers from Yoakum and Speidel brought the Sharks to within two points. A layup from Davis and four consecutive free throws from Speidel and Yoakum helped Nova Southeastern inch closer, 53-56. Eckerd went on a 5-0 run, but NSU battled back to take a 66-63 lead after Sunahara, Speidel and Yoakum contributed points. Speidel took over late, scoring six consecutive points that extended Nova Southeastern's advantage to 75-70 with just under five minutes remaining. Davis scored on back-to-back possessions for the Sharks and was key in extending the lead to 81-71. As the shot clock winded down with 28 seconds remaining, Dallas Graziani hit a dagger paint jumper that helped NSU close out an 88-78 win.

STATS OF THE NIGHT

- This was the second time NSU had trailed at halftime this season (Embry-Riddle, 1/18/23).

- Five Sharks reached double-figures in the win: Yoakum (22), Speidel (18), Pierre (17), Sunahara (14) and Davis (12).

- Speidel's 18 points were a season-high for the senior. The forward recorded a team-best +23 +/-.

- Sunahara is averaging 20.3 points on 68% from the field over the last three games (21/31).

- Yoakum reached 20+ points for the 10th time this season, and the sixth time over his last 10 games.

- Graziani recorded a season-high 8 steals, the second most in single-game program history.

- Davis' 12 points are a career-high for the true freshman.

UPCOMING

The Sharks will return home to the Shark Tank to take on Embry-Riddle in its final home game of the season. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.