Box Score
MIAMI – The Nova Southeastern men's basketball team (2-5) earned its first win over a NCAA Division I team in its NCAA era Tuesday, defeating the Florida International Panthers (7-4), 77-59, at the U.S. Century Bank Arena.
The Sharks took a 3-1 advantage just over a minute into the game on a
Justin Jeangerard (Jr., Weaverville, Calif.) 3-pointer. From there, they would lead the entire contest. NSU would lead by as much as 12 in the first half and take their largest advantage at 19 points, 74-55, with 1:47 remaining.
Jeangerard scored a career-high 21 points on 6-for-12 shooting. He went 5-for-7 from beyond the arc and 4-for-5 from the foul line. He also collected team bests with seven rebounds and three steals.
Chris Page (So., Plainfield, Ind.) earned a team-best three assists to go with 13 points and five boards.
Brian Cahill (Jr., Arlington, Va.) had 18 points, nine at the foul line, and four blocks.
NSU trailed for less than a minute of the game after giving up an early free throw. However, NSU controlled the first half by causing 15 FIU turnovers before halftime. The Sharks took their first double-digit lead of the game just over nine minutes in at 24-12. Six of the Sharks' first nine field goals came from beyond the arc, leaving FIU scrambling for a way to stop the Sharks' five-guard lineup.
From there, FIU began to find the rim with ease. However, NSU's sharp shooting would negate the Panthers' paint presence. The Sharks scored 24 of its 36 first half points on 3-pointers and led by nine points at the break.
Maurice Fuller (Jr., Westfield, Ind.) scored nine of his 14 points in the first half. He would finish the game shooting 50 percent from the floor (4-for-8), all on 3-point attempts.
NSU cooled off in the second half but dominated throughout. The Sharks only shot 34.6 percent in the second stanza, but made up for it with six treys and six offensive rebounds. Although FIU cut their turnovers in half after the break, NSU took great care of their possessions and only committed three turnovers. NSU would build its largest lead by shooting 17-for-21 from the foul line in the second half.
The game amounted to FIU's size and dominance in the paint versus NSU's shooting prowess. Although FIU earned 38 points in the paint, NSU scored 42 points off 3-pointers in fewer possessions. FIU finished the game shooting 1-for-10 from downtown. The Panthers also finished with 23 turnovers to NSU's 12.
Casey Carroll (So., Youngstown, Ohio) came off the bench for the second straight game and scored eight points with four rebounds.
Stian Berg (Jr., Baerum Norway) started at point guard and wreaked havoc all night, driving and kicking to create space for his teammates. He finished with two rebounds, assists and steals. Freshman forwards
Brandon Patchan (Tampa, Fla.) and
Cameron Denney (Norwell, Ind.) combined for 19 minutes played at FIU and were vital to the Sharks' interior defense.
The Sharks will begin Sunshine State Conference play on Dec. 7 against No. 4 Florida Southern at home at 4 p.m.
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