FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Dallas Graziani recorded 30 points and five steals in his final home game, Ross Reeves added 20 points, and Jaxon Nap added 12 as 1-seed Nova Southeastern outlasted 7-seed Alabama-Huntsville 79-63 in the Sweet 16 to capture the South Region Championship. The Sharks won their 105th consecutive home game as they advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the fifth straight year, dating back to the 2021-22 season.



Score: #1 Nova Southeastern 79 | Alabama-Huntsville 63
Records: #1 Nova Southeastern 30-1 (19-1 SSC) | Alabama-Huntsville 23-9 (15-7 GSC)
Location: Crutchfield Court at Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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The game was a shootout from the jump, as Jaxon Nap drained a three-pointer for the Sharks before the Chargers responded with consecutive treys to go up 6-3. Matthew Thurman drained another trey to give UAH a 9-8 lead with just under 15 minutes remaining in the first half. Neither team could gain much separation, and the score remained deadlocked at 13 with just over 12 minutes remaining.

Dallas Graziani scored eight straight points for the Sharks, but the Chargers stayed hot from three, as they got consecutive triples from Quentin Toles and Thomas Allard to gain a 25-19 advantage. UAH later took a 34-26 lead, its largest of the game, on a score from Preston Parker with 5:01 left. NSU stormed back, drawing within 34-32 on a basket from Ross Reeves with less than two minutes remaining. UAH took a 35-32 lead into the locker room after a free throw from Jordan Mabe.

Reeves got the Sharks the lead out of the half, as he drained a jumper to go up 37-36. Thurman responded later with another trey to tie the score at 40, but the Sharks started putting distance between themselves and the Chargers. The Sharks knocked down consecutive free throws and took a 51-43 lead after Ryan Davis converted from the charity stripe at the 13:24 mark.

However, Matthew Thurman single-handedly got the Chargers back in the game, as he scored 11 straight points to draw within 58-57 with 7:30 left to go. The Sharks then countered with a 9-0 run of their own, and Bennett Kayser's layup gave the Sharks a commanding 67-57 lead with 4:24 remaining. Not even a minute later, Graziani drained a three-pointer and was fouled, and he converted the four-point play, giving NSU all the momentum. UAH went cold down the stretch, and the Sharks got critical stops and closed the game with clutch free throws. The starters checked out to a loud standing ovation, and Kayser's free throws provided the finishing touches on the 79-63 victory.

South Region All-Tournament Team
Dallas Graziani (NSU)
Ross Reeves (NSU)
Quentin Toles (UAH)
Matt Thurman (UAH)
Brandon Fussell (UM)

Most Outstanding Player: Dallas Graziani (NSU)



Dallas Graziani: 30 points, five steals
Ross Reeves: 20 points
Jaxon Nap: 12 points, seven rebounds
Eli Allen: 10 rebounds



The Sharks (30-1, 19-1 SSC) now advance to the NCAA Elite Eight for the fifth straight season. To stay up-to-date on the Sharks NCAA Tournament run, be sure to follow on Instagram and Twitter/X at NSU_MBasketball.