MELBOURNE, Fla. – For the second consecutive season, No. 2 Nova Southeastern has clinched the Sunshine State Conference Regular Season title. The Sharks went on the road and defeated the Florida Tech Panthers 79-57 to earn their second consecutive league crown.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Records: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 22-0, 15-0 SSC | Florida Tech 16-8, 9-7 SSC
Score: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 79, Florida Tech 57
Location: Charles & Ruth Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half – Jonathan Pierre opened the game by making three consecutive three-pointers for the Sharks, giving NSU an early 9-5 advantage. RJ Sunahara converted an and-one, off an assist from Dallas Graziani, putting the score at 12-7. Jake Maranville started a 9-0 run for the Sharks, which featured a trio of three-pointers, as NSU led 36-23 late in the opening half. Nova Southeastern went into halftime leading 40-25 over the Panthers.

Second Half – Will Yoakum scored 6-of-8 points to begin the second half of play for NSU and later knocked down a three-pointer to put the Sharks advantaged to 53-33. Nova Southeastern's lead passed 30-points when Pierre knocked down another bucket. The Sharks closed out the hard-fought, defensive victory, clinching their second consecutive Sunshine State Conference regular season title and third in program history.

STATS OF THE NIGHT
Nova Southeastern has won 35 consecutive Sunshine State Conference games, dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season.
Despite the lowest scoring performance of the 2022-23 season, Nova Southeastern used its tenacious defense to hold Florida Tech to just 35% shooting from the field in the victory.

UPCOMING
No. 2 Nova Southeastern will next take on Saint Leo in a Sunshine State Conference game on Saturday, February 11. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.