FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - For the third consecutive season, the top-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks Men's Basketball team is hosting the Sunshine State Conference Championship tournament. NSU (24-2, 18-2 SSC) earned the program's fourth SSC regular season title and enter the 2023-24 tournament looking to three-peat as champions.
The No. 1 Sharks will host the eighth-seeded Eckerd Tritons (13-15, 8-12 SSC) on Tuesday night at the Rick Case Arena. NSU has dominated the match-up in recent years, winning nine consecutive contests against Eckerd dating back to February 13, 2019.
Nova Southeastern has maintained a consistent home-court advantage over the past few seasons, winning 58 straight home games since February 26, 2020.
INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN
No. 1 Nova Southeastern won both matchups against the Tritons during the 2023-24 season, surviving a near upset (88-84) on January 17th and handled Eckerd 117-70 on February 3rd.
Five Sharks averaged double-digit points against Eckerd – Shane Hunter (14), MJ Iraldi (13.5), Ryker Cisarik (13.5), Alex Mangold (12.5), and Isaiah Fuller (11.5). Mangold shot 71.4% from the field in those match-ups, while Cisarik held an 80% clip from beyond the arc.
NSU begins postseason play leading the nation in scoring margin (+24), is ranked second in the NCAA in points-per-game (102.7) and is second in fast-break points (515).
The Sharks have won two Sunshine State Conference tournament titles and currently are the reigning back-to-back SSC tournament champions.
ECKERD
The Tritons offense is led by George Kimble. The first-year guard averaged 19.8 points-per-game during the 2023-24 season and during both match-ups against the Sharks, Kimble scored 26 points (14 from the free throw line) at the Rick Case Arena on January 17th and 12 in the match-up on February 3rd.
Overall, Eckerd is 3-0 against the Sharks in the Sunshine State Conference tournament, with the most recent win coming in the 2014 quarterfinals. As a program, Eckerd has won five Sunshine State Conference tournament titles, most recently in 2016.
Tip-off for tonight's Sunshine State Conference quarterfinal match-up between the No. 1 Nova Southeastern Sharks and the eighth-seeded Eckerd Tritons is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. For tickets, click here.
SUPPORT THE TEAM - MAKE AN IMPACT!
JOIN THE WAVE!
Support Men's Basketball HERE
