Gannon Rolls, NSU Stunned

 The Championship Game is set in Division II Men's basketball. Gannon rolled to a 98-80 win over Oklahoma Baptist in the first game of the night. In the nightcap Lander stunned perennial powerhouse Nova Southeastern 91-81. The Golden Knights and Bearcats will battle on April 5th at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Tip time is set for 1 PM. 

NCAA DII Semifinal Matchups Set.

 After four games on Wednesday night, four teams advanced to Friday's semifinals at UPM Cooper Field House on the campus of Duquesne University. In the first game of the day on Wednesday, Gannon rolled to a 75-49 win over Michigan Tech. They will take on Oklahoma Baptist who blew past Cal State East bay 78-55. Nova Southeastern held off a pesky Black Hills State team 76-66, the Sharks will take on Lander who outlasted Daemen 77-74. The Friday session will tip off with Oklahoma Baptist taking on Gannon at 6 PM. In the nightcap at 8:30 PM Nova Southeastern will battle Lander. 

 National Quarterfinals: 

#3 Gannon 75 #6 Michigan Tech 49 

#7 Oklahoma Baptist 78 #2 Cal State East Bay 55 

#1 Nova Southeastern 76 #8 Black Hills State 66 

#5 Lander 77 #4 Damen 74 

National Semifinals (Friday 3/27:) 

#3 Gannon vs #7 Oklahoma Baptist: 6 PM 

#1 Nova Southeastern vs #5 Daemen: 8:30 PM 

The lines presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com: 

#3 Gannon +3 vs #7 Oklahoma Baptist 

#1 Nova Southeastern -8 vs Lander 

NCAA Quarterfinals Tipoff Wednesday.

 The 2026 NCAA Division II Quarterfinals tipoff on Wednesday in Pittsburgh. #3 Gannon will take on #6 Michigan Tech at Noon. #2 Cal State East Bay takes on #7 Oklahoma Baptist at 2:30 PM. On Wednesday evening, #1 Nova Southeastern battles #8 Black Hills State at 6 PM before #4 Daemen tangles with #5 Lander at 8:30 PM. 

 NCAA Quarterfinal Lines presented by JuanBernalSportsbooks.com: 

#3 Gannon +6 vs Michigan Tech 

#2 Cal State East Bay + 4.5 vs Oklahoma Baptist 

#1 Nova Southeastern -7 vs #8 Black Hills State 

#4 Daemen Pick vs #5 Lander 

NSU Streaks Continue As South Region Champs Again!

 As the old saying goes, the cream always rises to the top. In March in Division 2 basketball that means Nova Southeastern will be at their best. After a 79-63 win over Alabama-Huntsville the Sharks advance to the Elite 8 in Pittsburgh. The win was the Sharks 105th straight at home and they became region champions for the fifth time. As is the case with DII hoops, the final eight teams will be reseeded before play begins next week in Pittsburgh. 

NSU Takes On UAH In Regional Final.

 Only two teams remain in the South Region. In the ultimate David vs Goliath matchup it will be the top seed and #1 team in the country Nova Southeastern Sharks who will host the cinderella team of this years South region #7 University of Alabama- Huntsville Chargers. The region final will be Tuesday night. Here is everything you need to know about the South Region

All South Region games hosted by #1 Nova Southeastern @ Rick Case Arena Inside the Don Taft University Center. : 

 Regional Quarterfinals: 

#1 Nova Southeastern 94 #8 Morehouse 60 

#5 Montevallo 88 #4 Florida Southern 81 

#7 Alabama-Huntsville 92 #2 Palm beach Atlantic 73 

#3 West Alabama 58 #6 West Florida 53 

Regional Semifinals: 

#1 Nova Southeastern 98 #5 Montevallo 85 

#7 Alabama-Huntsville 83 #3 West Alabama 74 

Regional Final (Tuesday 3/17 @ 7 PM:) 

Line presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com: 

#1 Nova Southeastern -7.5 vs #7 Alabama Huntsville 

South Region Continues Sunday

 Saturday Scores: 

#3 West Alabama 58 #6 West Florida 53 

#7 Alabama-Hunstville 92 #2 Palm Beach Atlantic 73 

#1 Nova Southeastern 94 #8 Morehouse 60 

#5 Montevallo 88 #4 Florida Southern 81 

Sunday Lines presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com: 

#3 West Alabama +3.5 @ #7 Alabama- Huntsville- 5 PM 

#5 Montevallo +9.5 @ #1 Nova Southeastern 7:30 PM 

South Region Tips Off on Saturday.

 The South Regional tips off on Saturday. Here are your lines presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com: 

#1 Nova Southeastern -15.5 @ #8 Morehouse 

#4 Florida Southern -3 @ #5 Montevallo 

#2 Palm Beach Atlantic -2.5 @ #7 Alabama-Huntsville 

#3 West Florida +2.5 @ #6 West Florida 

Trio Of Tickets Punched To NCAA South Regional

 A trio of Sunshine State Conference teams punched tickets to the NCAA South Regional. The #1 overall seed who also won the SSC Regular season and Tournament Title Nova Southeastern will be the host school and take on #8 seed Morehouse on Saturday (314) at 5 PM. On the same side of the bracket #4 Florida Southern who was selected as an at large will take on #5 Montevallo. That game will take place at 730 on Saturday night. #2 Palm Beach Atlantic will take on #7 University of Alabama Huntsville at 2:30 on Saturday. #3 West Alabama and #6 West Florida round out the bracket. 

South Region Games Saturday (3/14:) 

#4 Florida Southern (22-10) vs #5 Montevallo (21-8) 7:30 PM

#1 Nova Southeastern (31-1) vs #8 Morehouse (22-9) : 5 PM 

#2 Palm Beach Atlantic (31-1) vs #7 Alabama-Huntsville (21-9) : 2:30 PM 

#3 West Alabama (26-5)  vs #6 West Florida (25-8): Noon 

SSC Tournament Results: 

Quarterfinals: 

#4 Barry 96 #5 Tampa 85 

#2 Palm Beach Atlantic 88 #7 Lynn 82 

#3 Florida Southern 90 #6 Embry-Riddle 86 (OT) 

#1 Nova Southeastern 104 #8 Rollins 91 

SSC Semifinals: 

#1 Nova Southeastern 94 #4 Barry 77 

#2 Palm Beach Atlantic 82 #3 Florida Southern 

Championship Game: 

#1 Nova Southeastern 92 #2 Palm Beach Atlantic 85 (OT) 

Nze, Figueroa Garner All SSC-Honors

 Although the season did not go the way the Rollins College Tars wanted it to (ending with a 13-16 record and six straight losses) the Tars got some accolades. As announced by the Sunshine State Conference on Wednesday Jah Zze was named All SSC Second Team while Omar Figueroa was Third Team All Conference. Nze started all 29 games and put up 17.9 points per game. He was in the top 10 in the conference in scoring all season long as he shot 45 percent from the field, 36 percent from the 3-point line, and 77 percent from the free throw line on the season. Nze was tied for the team lead in steals, second on the team in assists, and was also in the top 10 in the league in minutes played. His teammate, Figueroa, had a solid season as well despite a late season injury. He started 27 games, was top 10 in the conference in minutes played, led the team and was top 5 in the league in 3-point percentage, scored 16.3 points per night, led the team in assists, field goal percentage (46.9 percent,) and tied for the team lead in steals (44.) 

Here is the full list of All Conference Teams and Award winners: 

Player of The Year: Dallas Graziani (Nova Southeastern:) 

Defensive Player of the Year: Dallas Graziani (Nova Southeastern:) 

Freshman Of The Year: Ty Harpring (Florida Tech:) 

Coach Of The Year: Jim Crutchfield (Nova Southeastern:) 

All SSC First Team: 

G Dallas Graziani- Nova Southeastern 

G Ross Reeves: Nova Southeastern 

G Preston Le Gassick: Palm Beach Atlantic 

G Ryan Blount: Tampa  

F Amare Miller: Florida Southern 

All SSC Second Team: 

G Jared Berry: Embry-Riddle 

F Alvin Tumblin Jr.- Palm Beach Atlantic 

G Deon Perry: Barry 

F Jaxson Nap: Nova Southeastern 

G Jah Nze: Rollins 

All SSC Third Team: 

F Marko Sarenac: Barry 

G Omar Figueroa: Rollins 

F Wyatt Triestman: Eckerd 

C- Jack Klinger: Embry-Riddle 

G- Brady Corso: Florida Southern 

All SSC Defensive Team: 

G Dallas Graziani: Nova Southeastern 

F Christian Kirkland: Palm Beach Atlantic 

F Clarens Pierre: Embry-Riddle 

F Ryan Davis: Nova Southeastern 

F: John Roland: Lynn 

SSC Quarterfinal Scores: 

#1 Nova Southeastern 104 #8 Rollins 91 

#4 Barry 96 #5 Tampa 85 

#2 Palm Beach Atlantic 88 # 7 Lynn 82 

#3 Florida Southern 90 #6 Embry-Riddle 86 

Thursday Semifinal Lines (Presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com:) 

#4 Barry +18.5 @ #1 Nova Southeastern

#3 Florida Southern +5.5 @ #2 Palm Beach Atlantic 

SSC Finals: 

Sunday 

South Region Rankings (Released 3/4:) 

1. Nova Southeastern 

2. Palm Beach Atlantic 

3. West Alabama 

4. Montevallo 

5. Florida Southern 

6. Alabama-Huntsville 

7. West Florida 

8. Tuskegee 

9. Clark-Atlanta 

10. Morehouse 

Thursday Semifinal Scores: 

#1 Nova Southeastern 94 #4 Barry 77 

#2 Palm Beach Atlantic 82 #3 Florida Southern 77 

SSC Championship Game Sunday (Line Presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com:) 

#2 Palm Beach Atlantic +9 vs #1 Nova Southeastern 

Hot Shooting First Half Not Enough As Rollins Falls In SSC Quarterfinals

 The Rollins College Tars shot 71.4 percent from the field and 68.8 percent (11-16) from the 3-point line in the first half against Nova Southeastern at Rick Case Arena inside the Don Taft University Center. Against a lot of teams that would be good enough but when you play against the #1 team in the county you have to be nearly perfect. Rollins despite that hot shooting still trailed 55-52  at halftime. They would ultimately fall 104-91. With the loss Rollins season ends at 13-16 on the year. Nova Southeastern advances to the SSC Semifinals where they will host #4 Barry who knocked off #5 Tampa on Tuesday night in Miami. 

 Ricky Ghedini got Rollins on the board before six straight Sharks points. Jah Nze would nail a triple to knot the game at 6. After a Jaxson Nap trey NSU led 16-10. The Sharks would open up a double digit lead halfway through the first half. Down 34-23 at the 8:57 mark Rollins would get a spark off the bench as Michael Niemann would go on a personal 12-0 run as he knocked down four triples to give the Tars a 35-34 lead with 6:41 until halftime. NSU took a brief five point lead but Rollins would battle back and tie the game at 44 on a Jah Nze jumper with 2:24 in the opening stanza. After NSU again took the lead Nze would knot the game at 50 on his three with 48 seconds in the half. It would be a 55-52 lead for NSU at the half. NSU shot 58.3 percent in the first half, 33.3 percent (5-15) from the 3-point line, and 88.9 percent (8-9) at the free throw line. 

 Rollins came out of the locker room and regained the lead 62-61 on Nze's layup at the 16:55 mark. The next seven points would go the Sharks way. Trailing by six Michael Kalina would hit a triple of his own at the 11:25 mark and Rollins trailed 75-72. Before you knew it NSU led by double digits again (84-74) after Eli Allen scored with 7:54 on the clock. The lead grew to 16 and stayed in double digits until a last push by the Tars got them within nine on a pair of occasions. NSU would close it out late to advance to the SSC Semifinals and beat Rollins for the third time this season. Nze paced Rollins with 22 points, Ghedini had 17, and Niemann knocked down five triples to get his 15 points. The Tars shot 58.6 percent from the field, 48.3 percent (14-29) from the 3-point line, and 64.3 percent (9-14) at the free throw line. Rollins had 17 assists and 18 turnovers in the contest. 

 NSU was paced by Ross Reeves with 32 points, Nap added 19, Allen tallied 15, Bennett Kayser chipped in 12, while Dallas  Graziani scored 11 to go with 12 assists.  NSU shot 55.9 percent from the field, 34.6 percent (9-26) from the 3-point line, and 73.1 percent (19-26) from the free throw line. The Sharks won the rebounding battle 31-30. They had 22 assists and five turnovers in the contest. 

 Other SSC Quarterfinal Scores: 

#2 Palm Beach Atlantic 88 #7 Lynn 82 

#4 Barry 96 #5 Tampa 85 

#3 Florida Southern 90 #6 Embry-Riddle 86 

SSC Semifinals: 

#4 Barry vs #1 Nova Southeastern 

#3 Florida Southern vs #2 Palm Beach Atlantic 

SSC Finals: 

Sunday 

#8 Seed Rollins Set to Meet #1 Nova Southeastern For The Third Time in SSC Quarterfinal on Tuesday

 The Rollins College Tars (13-15 7-13 SSC) were not sure that they had done enough to qualify for the SSC tournament when they ended the regular season on Wednesday against Nova Southeastern. Three scenarios had to happen that determined the Tars fate. First Palm Beach Atlantic had to beat Tampa, that was never in doubt. Then Rollins needed Lynn to beat Florida Tech which they did. The final piece of the puzzle, Rollins needed Barry to beat Eckerd and that is exactly what happened. By virtue of a win against Florida Southern earlier in the season (the third seed in the tournament) Rollins won the tiebreaker over Eckerd. Ironically since that win over the Mocs, Rollins has lost five straight. You can catch all the action of the SSC Quarterfinal from Rick Case Arena (3/3) on 91.5 FM WPRK and round the world on RollinsSports.com with Jim "Shooter" Ferro on the call. Tip time is slated for 7:30 PM. 

 Last time out Rollins lost 75-69 to these very same Sharks. NSU scored the games final seven points to secure the win. Jah Nze led three Tars in double figures with 14 points while both Cheo James and Ryan Renfro tallied 11. Rollins shot 43.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent (7-21) from the 3-point line, and 75 percent (18-24) at the free throw line in the loss. In the first meeting on 1/10 Rollins lost to then #3 Nova Southeastern 91-73. Ricky Ghedini scored 16, Omar Figueroa had 15, and Jackson Gaffney scored 11. Since that meeting both Figueroa and Gaffney have been lost to injury by the Tars. Rollins scores 81.5 points per game (8th SSC) while they give up 76.6 points per contest (2nd SSC.) They shoot 46.7 percent from the floor (5th SSC) and 35 percent from the 3-point line (6th SSC.) The 74 percent that they shoot from the free throw line is good for 4th in the SSC. Rollins is -2.21 in turnover margin (8th SSC) and +1.20 in assist to turnover ratio (5th SSC.) They also dish out an SSC 5th best 16.68 assists per night. On defense the Tars are fourth in field goal percentage defense in the conference (44.2 percent) as well as 4th at guarding the 3-point line (32.2 percent.) On the glass Rollins gets seven (38.6-31.6) more rebounds than the opposition. They block 2.7 shots per game (9th SSC) and get 7.14 steals per game (8th SSC.) Nze (17.7 points per game for 6th SSC) and Figueroa (16.6 points per game good for 8th SSC) are leading the team in scoring. Ghedini and Matus Malovec share the team lead in rebounds per game with 5.0 per contest while Figueroa is shooting 46.9 percent from the field (9th SSC,) 42.4 percent from the 3-point line (3rd SSC,) 79.3 percent from the free throw line (10th SSC,) 2.8 triples per night (4th SSC,) 2.9 assists per game which leads the team, a 1.8 assist to turnover ratio (10th SSC,) 1.7 steals per game (5th SSC,) and 31.4 minutes played per game (8th SSC.) Renfro blocks a team leading 0.8 shots per game, and Nze gets 1.5 steals per game (8th SSC.) 

 NSU has won 100 straight games at home and come in with a 24-1 record and 19-1 in the SSC. They are the top team in the country and have won 18 straight. The latest victim was Florida Southern by a score of 92-73 on Saturday. Ross Reeves led five Sharks in double figures with 24 points, Dallas Graziani had 19 to go with six assists, Jaxon Nap netted 16, Ryan Davis added 15 to go with 10 rebounds, while Eli Allen scored 10 to go with 10 rebounds. In the first meeting with Rollins in January Graziani and Reeves each had 23, Bobby Rosenberger scored 14, and Nap added 10. The Sharks shot 49.2 percent from the field, 35 percent from the 3-point line (7-20) and 74.3 percent (26-35) from the free throw line in the 18 point win. In the six point win last week Graziani poured in 35 points, Reeves got 14, and Davis netted 11. The Sharks shot 39.7 percent from the field, 14.3 percent (4-28) from the 3-point line, and 65 percent (13-20) at the free throw line. NSU scores 102.2 points per game which leads the country, while they give up 76.8 points per game (3rd SSC.) NSU shoots 49.6 percent from the field (2nd SSC,) while they shoot a league leading 37.7 percent from the 3-point line The Sharks shoot 72.9 percent from the free throw line (5th SSC) as well. They lead the country in turnover margin (+10.3) and assist to turnover ratio (2.08.) They also lead the SSC in assists (19.88 per night.) They are holding the opposition to 42.5 percent shooting from the field (2nd SSC) and 31.1 percent from the 3-point line (also 2nd SSC.) They are getting 5.7 (43.0-37.3) more rebounds than the opposition which is 4th in the SSC. They block 2.6 shots per game (10th SSC) and get 12.2 steals per game (4th SSC.) Reeves leads the SSC putting up 23 points per game which is seventh in the country, Graziani gets 20.3 points per game, Nap scores 13.9 per night, and Bennett Kayser rounds out the double digit scorers at 10 per contest. Nap grabs 8.2 rebounds per game which is 5th in the SSC, while Reeves and Graziani are 5th and 7th respectively in field goal percentage. Graziani leads the SSC with the 5th best assists number in the country (6.3 per night.) His 151 assists are 12th most in the nation. He also leads the SSC in assist to turnover ratio (3.3.) Graziani gets 2.4 steals per game which is also tops in the conference. The 35 minutes Graziani averages per game is 2nd in the SSC as well. 

The line presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com: NSU by 17

Other SSC Quarterfinal Lines (presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com:) 

#5 Tampa +3.5 @ #4 Barry 

#7 Lynn +8.5 @ #2 Palm Beach Atlantic 

#6 Embry-Riddle +6.5 @ #3 Florida Southern