FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The No. 1 Nova Southeastern Men's Basketball team advanced in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament on Thursday evening, defeating fourth-seed Florida Tech 95-89 in the SSC Semifinal. The Sharks were led by 29 points from SSC Newcomer of the Year, Will Yoakum on 64/50/87 splits. RJ Sunahara, the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Year, contributed 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks in the SSC Tournament victory. The victory sends top-ranked, and unbeaten, Nova Southeastern to the program's fourth Sunshine State Conference tournament title game in five seasons. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Records: No. 1 Nova Southeastern 29-0, 21-0 SSC | Florida Tech 19-11, 11-10 SSC
Score: No.1 Nova Southeastern 95, Florida Tech 89
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half – Lukas Speidel got the scoring started for the Sharks with a quick layup. Will Yoakum scored seven consecutive points that helped NSU gain a 13-9 lead with over sixteen minutes remaining. Nova Southeastern led 19-11 following a 6-2 run that featured four points from Jonathan Pierre. The Panthers stormed back, making the score 25-23, but three consecutive buckets from Pierre, RJ Sunahara and Ryan Davis extended the Sharks lead to 31-23 with just over six minutes left in the half. Pierre caught fire, scoring six straight points that led NSU on an 11-2 run. Yoakum threw down a double-clutch dunk over a defender and a layup, sending the Sharks into halftime with a 46-36 lead over the Panthers.
 
Second Half – Dallas Graziani caught the opening inbound pass and sprinted past the Florida Tech defense to open the scoring in the second half. After a 6-0 run from Florida Tech, Yoakum hit a contested corner three-ball, putting the Sharks ahead 51-42. Graziani took control with 14 minutes remaining, scoring five of the Sharks' next seven points. A free throw from Yoakum, a jumper from Pierre and a tip-in from Sunahara, put the Sharks up 63-51 with 12 minutes left in the game. Yoakum knocked down a pair of three-pointers that helped extend NSU's lead to 14 with just under eight minutes in the half remaining. Sunahara scored five straight points for the Sharks, including a poster dunk over two Panthers, putting Nova Southeastern ahead 77-63. The Panthers rallied over the final six minutes of regulation, outscoring the Sharks 17-3 to send the game into overtime with the score tied 80-80. 
 
Overtime – Sunahara and Graziani scored on back-to-back possessions to give the Sharks an 84-80 lead with under four minutes left in overtime. Graziani extended NSU's lead on the following possession with a pair of free throws. Sunahara hit a corner three-ball off a great pass from Graziani to put Nova Southeastern up 89-83 with two and a half minutes remaining. Yoakum was clutch at the free-throw line and extended the Sharks' advantage to 91-85. With a two-point lead and 16 seconds remaining, Graziani stepped up to the line and made a pair of free throws to help the Sharks secure a 95-89 win over the Panthers.
 
STATS OF THE NIGHT

• The Sharks have won 40 straight games at home.
• Five Sharks reached double-figures: Yoakum (29), Sunahara (20), Graziani (18), Pierre (14) and Davis (10).
• Yoakum's 29 points tied his season-high and has now scored 20+ points twelve times this season.
• Graziani is averaging 16 points over the last three games on 55% from the field.

 
UPCOMING
No. 1 Nova Southeastern will take on sixth-seeded Embry-Riddle in the SSC Tournament Championship, in a rematch of last season's 2021-22 NCAA South Region Championship,  at the Rick Case Arena on Sunday, March 5. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.