Men’s basketball team wins the Sunshine State Conference Championship

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.

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.