FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – For the second consecutive season, the top-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men's Basketball team enters the Sunshine State Conference Championship Tournament as the top-seed following an undefeated regular season. The No. 1 Sharks (27-0, 20-0 SSC) begin their postseason with a match-up against eight-seed Barry (12-13, 8-12 SSC).
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
No. 1 Nova Southeastern has dominated the Buccaneers in recent years, winning ten straight head-to-head matchups dating back to the 2018-19 season. This season, NSU defeated Barry in both games, winning 108-92 in Miami Shores and completing the season sweep with a 90-71 victory from the Rick Case Arena. The last time the Sharks and Buccaneers faced each other in the SSC Championship Tournament was in the final game, in which Nova Southeastern earned the first Sunshine State Conference Tournament title in team history, defeating Barry 98-85.
WHAT TO WATCH
- In both match-ups against the Buccaneers, the Sharks dynamic duo of RJ Sunahara and Will Yoakum led NSU to wins. Sunahara averaged 23.5 points-per-game, while shooting at least 75% from the field in both contests. Yoakum recorded 19 points in both contests.
- Jonathan Pierre has elevated his game during the 2022-23, especially down the stretch for NSU. Over the final eight games of the regular season (since 1/28/23), Pierre is averaging 16.4 points-per-game, 8.1 rebounds-per-game, and three assists-per-game.
- No. 1 Nova Southeastern, through the support of Shark fans, has been dominant at home from the Rick Case Arena over the last two seasons, going 35-0 at home.
- The Sharks have won 40 consecutive regular-season Sunshine State Conference games
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
UPCOMING
The Sunshine State Conference Tournament is set to tip-off from the Rick Case Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28.
