FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Sunshine State Conference Tournament continues on from the Rick Case Arena, as the top-ranked – and undefeated - Nova Southeastern Sharks Men's Basketball team (28-0, 20-0 SSC) hosts the fourth-seeded Florida Tech Panthers (19-10, 11-9 SSC) in the SSC Semifinals on Thursday evening.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
No. 1 Nova Southeastern was victorious in both matchups against the Panthers during the 2022-23 season, defeating Florida Tech 105-75 from the Rick Case Arena on 12/29 and completed the season sweep with a 79-57 win on February 8, where the Sharks clinched their second consecutive Sunshine State Conference regular season title.
NSU and Florida Tech matched up in last year's Sunshine State Conference tournament quarterfinals, the Sharks defeated the Panthers 89-77.
The Panthers are the only team to hold the Sharks under 80 points in a game this season.
WHAT TO WATCH
- The No. 1 Sharks handled Barry in the quarterfinal round of the Sunshine State Conference tournament. Each player on the Nova Southeastern roster scored, as NSU defeated Barry 106-71.
- Nova Southeastern features three headliners from the Sunshine State Conference awards, RJ Sunahara (Player of the Year), Will Yoakum (Newcomer of the Year) and Jim Crutchfield (Coach of the Year).
- The duo of Sunahara (19.5 points-per-game) and Yoakum (18.4 ppg) are the catalysts for the Sharks, with both ranking inside the top-10 in the league in points-per-game. The pair ranks second and third, respectively, in the SSC in field goal percentage.
- Florida Tech had a pair of players named to the All-SSC Second-Team – Sesan Russell and Sean Houpt. The pair combined to score 36 points for the Panthers in the Sunshine State Conference quarterfinal win over Palm Beach Atlantic.
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
UPCOMING
The Sunshine State Conference Semifinal matchup between the Sharks and Panthers is set to tip-off from the Rick Case Arena at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 2.
