Sharks Average 102 Points Per-Game, In Victories over North Alabama and Valdosta State

The Nova Southeastern University Men's Basketball team (2-1) swept both games in their home-opening Courtyard Marriot Thanksgiving Classic, last weekend in the University Center Arena.  The Sharks defeated the University of North Alabama Lions (2-2) by a 108-107 final on Friday evening, and registered a convincing 96-82 victory over the Valdosta State University Blazers (3-2) on Saturday night.

In a fast paced, up and down battle that saw nine lead changes and 15 ties, the Sharks (42-71) out shot the Lions (35-75) 59.2% to 46.7 %. NSU (11-18) was red-hot from behind the arc, ripping the cords at 61.1%. NSU outscored UNA 60 to 42 in the paint and 14 to 6 in fast break points. The Sharks bench out-scored the Lions 34-18.

Sharks point-guard Rhys Martin (So., Brisbane, Australia) led five NSU players in double-figure scoring, as he posted a double-double with a team-high 22 points (8-10, 2-2, 4-6), dealt 10 assists and grabbed five rebounds.

NSU Senior forward Diego Aguiar (Sao Paulo, Brazil) netted 17 points (7-11, 0-0, 3-6), center David Naylor (So., Melbourne, Australia) tallied 16 points (8-10), forward Tim Coenraad (So., Brisbane, Australia) added 16 points (6-14, 3-7, 1-2) and center Kevin Chester recorded 11 points (5-9, 0-0, 1-3).

On Saturday night, the Sharks notched a 14 point triumph over Valdosta State, as Aguiar led all scorers with 18 points (6-14, 0-0, 6-8).  NSU had six players reach double-figures in scoring as the Sharks (30-55, 54.5%) out shot the Blazers (28-62, 45.2%) from the field. NSU continued their red-hot shooting from the perimeter, finishing 10-14 from long range for 71.4%. The Sharks outscored Valdosta State 12-2 in fast break points.

Naylor scored 15 points (5-8, 1-1, 4-5) and grabbed a game-high 8 boards, Coenraad added 14 (5-6, 3-4, 1-2), Martin (4-7, 1-1, 3-4) and Donovan Redden (3-6, 2-3, 4-8) scored 12 each while freshman guard Tomas Portuondo (Fr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) tallied 13 (4-4, 2-2, 3-3).

Portuondo was 7-7 shooting, including 5-5 from behind the arc, and 4-4 from the charity stripe in 20 minutes of action during the two games.

NSU broke a three year old record (NCAA) by surpassing the 97 points they scored vs. Saint Leo University on 2/25/04. The 108 points scored is also the record for most points at a home game and the combined 215 points broke the old record (176, 3/7/03 vs. Montana State-Billings) by 32 points. The Sharks 57 points scored in the first half broke the previous record of 49, set just last season vs. Lynn University on 2/1/06. North Alabama s 107 points broke the record for the most points allowed by an opponent.

Junior guard Jason Del Calvo (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) set a NSU trend in the first game of the season, and five players have followed by setting new individual career-highs so far this season. Del Calvo got things started when he scored a career-high 11 points, on 4-5 shooting, in the season opener at Alabama-Huntsville. Three other NSU players set new career highs vs. North Alabama, as Martin dished 10 assists, Chester pulled down nine rebounds, and junior Oresti Nitsios (Jr., Victoria, Australia) swatting three shots. The individual career-high trend continued vs. Valdosta State, as Aguiar netted 18 points and Naylor distributing five assists.