EVANSVILLE, IN. - With a spot in the NCAA Division II national championship on the line, the Nova Southeastern Sharks and Washburn Ichabods will match-up on the court for the first-time ever on Thursday night at the Ford Center. The contest will feature two of the four teams to be featured as the top team in NCAA Division II during the 2024-25 season.
The Sharks are riding the longest winning streak in the country, across all levels of NCAA basketball, having won their last 21 games.
No. 2 Nova Southeastern (34-1) | Sunshine State Conference Regular Season & Tournament Champions, NCAA South Region Champions
Last Game: No. 2 Nova Southeastern 102, Assumption 93
The Sharks' offense reclaimed their groove in the national quarterfinals, as four players scored over 20 points in the victory, led by 24 points from Tyler Eberhart. It was the first time in this season's NCAA Tournament that Nova Southeastern surpassed the 100-point threshold. NSU went into the half leading 56-36 over the Greyhounds.
NABC and D2 CCA National Player of the Year MJ Iraldi scored 22 points in the win, while Dallas Graziani (22) points and Ryker Cisarik (20) both added at least 20 points.
All five starters for the Sharks average double-digit points – MJ Iraldi (23.5), Ryker Cisarik (18.8), Ross Reeves (13.2), Dallas Graziani (12.7), and Tyler Eberhart (12.4).
The Elite Eight victory improved Nova Southeastern to 21-3 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, all under Head Coach Jim Crutchfield, and NSU has won 15 of its last 16 tournament games.
No. 5 Washburn (30-3) | Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Regular Season Champions, NCAA Central Region Champions
Last Game: No. 5 Washburn 90, No. 10 Lenoir-Rhyne 78
Washburn Head Coach Brett Ballard earned the 200th win of his coaching career in Tuesday night's national quarterfinal, as the Ichabods defeated tenth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne.
Washburn features a well-rounded offensive attack, as four starters average double-digit points-per-game – Jacob Hanna (15.8), Brayden Shorter (15.6), Andrew Orr (14.0), and Jack Bachelor (13.7), while Michael Keegan adds over seven points-per-game.
Shorter led the Ichabods in their Elite Eight win, scoring 18 points, while six Washburn players scored in double figures with Dillon Claussen adding 17 off the bench.
It's the Sharks. It's the Ichabods. It's the Final Four. Tonight's game will be streamed on ESPN+ and will tip-off at 9:30 p.m. EST. To stay up-to-date on Sharks Men's Basketball. Be sure to follow on Instagram & X at NSU_MBasketball.
