The NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball tournament is heating up as Florida Southern Higher education and Nova Southeastern College secure their places in the Sweet 16, also recognized as the Regional Championship. These two groups are amid the final 16, battling it out for the coveted title.
2024 DII Men’s Basketball Championship – Regional finals
Matchups: Florida Southern vs Nova Southeastern
Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Reside stream: Watch right here
The Journey So Much
Florida Southern, the third-seeded Moccasins, sophisticated to the regional closing just after a thrilling overtime victory in opposition to the 13th-ranked and 2nd-seeded West Ga, with a remaining score of 93-87. The sport was held at Rick Case Arena, wherever the Moccasins showcased their tenacity and talent.
On the other hand, Nova Southeastern, the major-seed in the region, defeated the fifth-seed Embry-Riddle with a rating of 81-73. This victory marked their progression to the regional title game, placing the phase for an fascinating showdown.
Staff Highlights
Florida Southern, with a document of 23-9, boasts an common of 89.6 factors for each recreation. The team’s scoring leader is Luke Anderson, the Sunshine Point out Convention Player of the Yr. Anderson, a indigenous of Lakeland, Florida, averages just less than 20 points for every game at 19.8 and pulls down 8.2 rebounds per recreation. He is joined by Alex Steen, Akol Arop, Dominick Denny, and Erickson Bans, all of whom have double-digit averages.
Steen, the SSC Defensive Player of the 12 months, leads a team that averages 44.6 rebounds for each match, contributing 10.8 for each sport himself. The Moccasins have managed to maintain their opponents to 82.9 factors for each activity, accomplishing below their period typical of 79.5 per match in the regional.
Nova Southeastern, with an spectacular record of 29-2, continues to be one of the top rated-scoring groups in the nation, averaging 101.8 points per recreation. The workforce has 4 players with double-figure averages and two far more just outdoors. Shane Hunter, who averages a workforce-greatest 15.9 points, qualified prospects the crew irrespective of only taking part in 23.7 minutes for each sport.
Quarterfinal Summaries
In the first regional semifinal, Florida Southern and West Ga battled into additional time. Just after a intently contested game, the Moccasins emerged victorious, thanks to a sturdy performance from Akol Arop, who led all scorers with 6 points in extra time.
In the next semifinal, Nova Southeastern claimed a 6-place halftime direct against Embry-Riddle and taken care of their gain to protected an 8-issue acquire, advancing to their third straight regional championship sport.
Collection Historical past
The approaching activity marks the 50th meeting concerning the Moccasins and Sharks and the 1st in NCAA Tournament perform. The teams have had a aggressive historical past, with Nova Southeastern profitable 6 of the final seven game titles. However, Florida Southern handed Nova Southeastern its first reduction in 62 normal-period game titles before this season.
Seeking In advance
The winner of the South Region will progress to stand for the area at the NCAA Elite 8 Championship in Evansville, Indiana, from March 26-30, hosted at the Ford Centre. As the competitiveness intensifies, the two groups will be looking to provide their A-recreation to secure their location in the future spherical.
