WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The #1 Nova Southeastern Sharks suffered their first setback of the season, as they fell 88-83 at the hands of the #17 Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish on Saturday afternoon. Ross Reeves recorded 21 points, five rebounds and three assists, and Dallas Graziani added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Sharks, who had five players score in double figures. 



Score: #1 Nova Southeastern 83 | #17 Palm Beach Atlantic 88
Records: #1 Nova Southeastern 6-1 (3-1 SSC) | #17 Palm Beach Atlantic 9-0 (4-0 SSC)
Location: Rubin Arena | West Palm Beach, Fla. 
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The first 90 seconds were a back and forth affair and set the tone for the game, as the Sailfish jumped out to an early lead. Bennett Kayser had two consecutive offensive rebounds and putbacks to tie the score at 8, but the Sailfish went up 10-8 at the first media timeout. The Sharks then responded with a 10-2 run to go up 18-12, forcing a Sailfish timeout. That run featured a layup from Reeves, a steal from Graziani, two free throws from Ryan Davis and a steal and score from Blaise Vespe. Davis hit another three-pointer before the Sailfish responded, and NSU led 21-17 at the under-12 media timeout. 

Graham Worland got hot for the Sailfish, as the guard knocked down two triples to tie the game at 26 before Reeves hit a three to give NSU a 29-28 lead. Worland hit another layup to snatch the lead right back for PBA, and the Sharks trailed 30-29 at the 7:09 mark. Davis knocked down two free throws before the Sailfish beat the press and scored another layup to grab the lead back. Graziani later hit a floater, but the Sailfish responded with an and-one from Blake Wilson, giving PBA a 37-36 lead at the final media timeout of the half. Neither team was able to get much separation the rest of the half, but PBA's Tyler Burton scored a layup before time expired, and the Sailfish led 46-43 at halftime. 

The Sharks opened the second half with a 12-2 run, as they got a three from Graziani, consecutive steals and scores from Eli Allen and then Reeves, a putback from Jaxon Nap and another three-pointer from Graziani. NSU led 55-50 at the under-16 media timeout. The Sailfish turned the ball over consecutively as they struggled to get the ball inbounds, and the Sharks went up 61-52, their largest lead of the game, to force yet another PBA timeout. The Sailfish responded with a 6-0 run, but Graziani hit a tough turnaround jumper to quell the momentum, and NSU still led 63-58 at the under-12 timeout. 

PBA's Ty Burton hit a three to take a 67-66 lead with just under nine minutes remaining, before Graziani responded with another layup to give NSU the lead again. PBA hit two consecutive threes to go up 75-71 with 6:24 left, and later went up 79-73 before Nap drew a charge with 4:05 remaining. Davis cut the Sailfish lead to 81-80 after hitting four free throws, but Wilson gave PBA an 83-80 lead after a tough layup underneath with 1:50 remaining. Reeves missed a three-pointer with under 30 seconds remaining, but PBA split their ensuing free throws. Graziani drew a foul but he missed his second free throw, and PBA hit their remaining attempts to win 88-83. 



With the setback, NSU moves to 6-1 on the season (3-1 in SSC play) and will now prepare to take on the University of Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, December 16 at 7:00pm. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men's Basketball, be sure to follow on Instagram and Twitter/X at NSUM_Basketball.