The No. 1 Nova Southeastern Men's Basketball team won its second consecutive Sunshine State Conference Tournament on Sunday afternoon, defeating sixth-seed Embry-Riddle 92-69, from the Rick Case Arena. The Sharks were led by a 15-point, 13-assist effort from Dallas Graziani (5'9''-PG) and 22 points from Will Yoakum (6'5''-G/F) in the SSC Championship.Following the Sunshine State Conference tournament victory, Dallas Graziani, Jonathan Pierre (6'9''-G), RJ Sunahara (6'8''-F) (SSC Player of the Year) and Will Yoakum (SSC Newcomer of the Year) were honored with All-Tournament team recognition, with Yoakum being named the Tournament Most Valuable Player.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Records: Nova Southeastern 30-0, 20-0 SSC | Embry-Riddle 19-11, 10-10 SSC
Score: Nova Southeastern 92, Embry-Riddle 69
Location: Rick Case Arena | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Get Social: Instagram & Twitter - NSU_MBasketball | Facebook - NSU Men's Basketball

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half - The opening minutes of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament Championship were physical, with both teams setting the tone on the defensive side of the ball. Embry-Riddle ran off eight consecutive points, taking a 12-6 lead over the Sharks before Ryan Davis halted the momentum with a three-point bucket of his own. Nearing the midway point of the half, RJ Sunahara knocked down a three-pointer of his own, tying the contest at 14-14. Jonathan Pierre gave the Sharks a 17-14, following a block on the defensive end and a three-point basket. With less than four minutes remaining in the half, Yoakum - SSC Tournament MVP - scored seven consecutive points for NSU and gave the Sharks a 30-26 advantage. As the clock wound down in the first half, Head Coach Jim Crutchfield - the Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year - called a timeout and drew up a last second shot for Graziani. The redshirt freshman stepped up and knocked down a buzzer-beating three-pointer to send the Sharks into the half leading 39-32.
Second Half - Nova Southeastern began the second half on a 13-6 run, Pierre capped off the run by drilling a three-pointer and put NSU ahead 52-38. The Sharks continued to hold the Eagles at bay throughout the contest, Yoakum knocked down a three-pointer, extending the NSU lead to 60-41. Pierre finished a contested lay-up, drawing a foul, and converting an and-one as the Sharks led 74-54 with under six minutes remaining. An emphatic slam dunk from Sunahara put an exclamation point on the Sharks second consecutive Sunshine State Conference Tournament title, putting the NSU advantage at 85-62 with two minutes left in the contest. The Sharks closed out the 92-69 win over the Eagles and sealed the victory.

STATS OF THE NIGHT
Nova Southeastern is the first school to win back-to-back SSC Tournaments since Florida Southern (19-20).
Four Sharks reached double-figures: Yoakum (22), Pierre (17), Sunahara (16) and Graziani (15).
The double-double is Graziani's third of the season.
Nova Southeastern has now won 30 games for the second consecutive season.

Courtesy of sunshinestateconference.com

All-Tournament MVP: Will Yoakum (6'5''-G/F) of Nova SE
Player of the Year: RJ Sunahara (6'8''-F) of Nova SE
Defensive Player of the Year: Jalen Cooper (6'6''-G/F) of PBA
Newcomer of the Year: Will Yoakum (6'5''-G/F) of Nova SE
Coach of the Year: Jim Crutchfield of Nova SE

All-SSC First Team 2023

Sunahara

Booth

Yenor

Yoakum

Dambreville

First Team
RJ Sunahara (6'8''-F) of Nova SE
Jadin Booth (6'2''-G-2002) of FSC
Hutton Yenor (6'4''-G) of Rollins
Will Yoakum (6'5''-G/F) of Nova SE
EJ Dambreville (6'3''-G) of FSC

All-SSC Second Team 2023

Russell

Koster

Jackson

Houpt

Cooper

Murray

Second Team
Sesan Russell (6'2''-G-1999) of Florida Tech
Kanon Koster (6'4''-G) of St.Leo
Marty Jackson (6'6''-F) of St.Leo
Sean Houpt (6'4''-G) of Florida Tech
Jalen Cooper (6'6''-G/F) of PBA
Chris Murray (6'6''-F) of Embry Riddle

SSC All-Newcomer Team 2023

Yoakum

Jackson

Koster

Kapic

Thiam

All-Newcomer Team
Will Yoakum (6'5''-G/F) of Nova SE
Marty Jackson (6'6''-F) of St.Leo
Kanon Koster (6'4''-G) of St.Leo
Nordin Kapic (6'8''-F-2003) of Lynn
Carr Thiam (6'4''-G) of Eckerd

SSC All-Tournament Team 2023

Yoakum

Sunahara

Graziani

Pierre

Whitlow

Houpt

All-Tournament Team
Will Yoakum (6'5''-G/F) of Nova SE
RJ Sunahara (6'8''-F) of Nova SE
Dallas Graziani (5'9''-PG) of Nova SE
Jonathan Pierre (6'9''-G) of Nova SE
Malcolm Whitlow (6'1''-G) of Embry Riddle
Sean Houpt (6'4''-G) of Florida Tech