Men’s basketball team wins conference championship

NSU’s men’s basketball team takes victory for the second year in a row at the SSC Tournament. COURTESY OF NSU SHARK ATHLETICS.

The NSU men’s basketball team (30-0) enjoyed a historic afternoon at Rick Case Arena on March 5, claiming a 92-69 win against Embry-Riddle University (19-11) in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) final.

RJ Sunahara (#13), redshirt junior, takes a shot against Embry-Riddle. COURTESY OF NSU SHARKS ATHLETICS .

The Sharks made history as the first school to win back-to-back SSC Tournaments since Florida Southern College in 20192020.

The Sharks dominated the championship game from start to finish, with key players Will Yoakum, graduate student and guard, scoring 22 points and Dallas Graziani, redshirt freshman and guard, contributing 15 points and 13 assists. Following the victory, four players, including Yoakum, were honored with an All-Tournament recognition.

The first half of the championship game was a physical battle, with both teams playing majestic defense.

Embry-Riddle took an early 12-6 lead after scoring eight straight points. The Sharks struggled to find its rhythm until Ryan Davis, freshman small forward, halted the Eagles’ momentum with a three-pointer, and RJ Sunahara, redshirt junior and forward, tied the game at 14-14 with a three-pointer of his own.

Jonathan Pierre, sophomore guard, then blocked a shot on defense before scoring a three-pointer to put the Sharks up 17-14. Yoakum, the SSC Tournament MVP, scored seven straight points for NSU with less than four minutes remaining in the first half, giving them a 30-26 advantage. Graziani hit a crucial three-pointer just before the buzzer, sending the Sharks into the half with a 39-32 advantage.

Dallas Graziani (#12), redshirt freshman, dribbles the ball. COURTESY OF NSU SHARKS ATHLETICS.

The Sharks began its second half on a 13-6 run, capped by a three-pointer from Pierre, which put the team ahead 52-38. Yoakum’s three-pointer increased the advantage to 60-41, and Pierre completed a contested layup, drawing a foul and completing an and-one to make it 74-54 with less than six minutes remaining. Sunahara’s slam dunk solidified the tournament victory, putting NSU ahead 85-62 with two minutes remaining.