PITTSBURGH - Jaxon Nap had 17 points and a career-high 20 rebounds, and Ryan Davis also added 17 points and seven boards, but the Nova Southeastern Sharks saw their season come to an end as they fell 91-81 to Lander in the Final Four. Ross Reeves added 16 points and seven boards, Dallas Graziani recorded 15 points and seven assists, and Bennett Kayser added 12 points off the bench for the Sharks.

"Congrats to Lander. They played a good game, they played hard... well-coached," head coach Jim Crutchfield said afterwards. "I think we've got a really tightly-bonded team, a lot of guys that are really close to each other, that I feel close to myself. So, it's always a difficult day, but today you congratulate them and say, 'good win'." 

"Just really grateful," Graziani said when asked about his thoughts on his career. "You know, being an under-sized guard, you could say Coach Crutch took a chance on me.... I've had so much fun here. So much success, and that's all due to him, the staff, the guys I've played beside." 



Score: #1 Nova Southeastern 81 | Lander 91
Records: #1 Nova Southeastern 31-2 (19-1 SSC) | Lander 30-5 (17-3 PBC)
Location: UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse | Pittsburgh, Penn.
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The Bearcats got off to a 5-0 lead out of the gate, but the Sharks got on the board with layups from Eli Allen and Bobby Rosenberger III after a slow start. The pace then picked up, and the Sharks got back-to-back buckets from Bennett Kayser and two free throws from Jaxon Nap to gain an 11-10 advantage. Consecutive scores from Ryan Davis and Ross Reeves extended NSU's lead to 18-12 with just under 12 minutes remaining, but the Bearcats cut the lead down to 20-18 after free throws from Bobby Crawford Jr.

Lander regained the lead after a dunk from Dylan Canoville and held a 27-24 advantage with just over five minutes remaining in the first half. The Bearcats then got a triple from Antewan Webber Jr., a bucket from Greyson Pritzl and an and-one from Canoville to go up 34-25. The Sharks went cold from the field, and the Bearcats took a 40-25 lead, their largest of the half, with just over two minutes remaining. Reeves finally broke the scoring drought with a floater and Graziani knocked two free throws for the Sharks, but they still trailed 42-31 at halftime.

The second half got off to a breakneck pace, and Graziani was fouled on a midrange jumper and converted the free throw to cut Lander's lead to 46-38. NSU cut the lead down to six after a technical foul and two more free throws from Davis, and Graziani drained another jumper to cut the lead to 48-44 and force a Bearcat timeout. Graziani drilled another three-pointer to cut the lead to 52-47. The Sharks later got scores from Reeves and Davis to draw within 58-56, and Reeves drew a charge on the inbound to swing the momentum. Kayser knocked down two free throws to tie the game at 58 with 10:45 remaining.

However, the Bearcats responded with a 9-0 run, featuring five straight points from Pritzl and another dunk from Canoville, to go up 67-58. Moments later, Canoville got a steal and another fastbreak dunk to extend the lead to 73-60. Lander kept NSU at arm's length, and they got a three-pointer and a fastbreak score from Jacob Daniels to go up 81-71 with just over four minutes remaining.

Graziani hit a triple from the top of the key to cut Lander's lead to 83-76 with 2:25 left. Nap later rebounded his own missed free throw to cut it to seven again, 85-78, and Kayser hit a floater with 1:03 left to cut it to 86-80. However, the Sharks could get no closer, and Lander closed the game at the free throw line to win 91-81.

"Though we fell short of the repeat, the standard of excellence set by this team is a defining moment for our University," said NSU President and CEO Harry K. Moon. "Their commitment to one another and to NSU has left a lasting legacy that extends far beyond the scoreboard. This team has shown the world the true spirit of Shark Nation, and for that, the University is profoundly grateful."

"While tonight's result is not what we had hoped for, it does not take away from what this program and team have accomplished this season," Interim Director of Athletics Ryan Romero said. "Our student-athletes and coaches have represented our program at the highest level, and their impact is felt throughout the NSU community and beyond. We could not be prouder of their efforts. Shark Nation stands firmly behind them."



The Sharks finish the season at 31-2, with a 19-1 mark in SSC play, and their fourth consecutive berth in the NCAA Division II Final Four. To stay up-to-date on the Sharks during the offseason, be sure to follow on Instagram and Twitter/X at NSU_MBasketball.