MELBOURNE, Fla. - [PDF Bracket | Championship Central] - No. 1 Nova Southeastern University will take on No. 3 Florida Southern College in the 2019 Sunshine State Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament finals. Game time is slated for 4:05 PM in Rick Case Arena on the campus of Nova Southeastern University. Fans can watch the broadcast live on ESPN3 or take in the audio broadcast on the
SSC Digital Network.
How They Got There:
Nova Southeastern defeated No. 8 University of Tampa, 95-82, on Wednesday evening in Fort Lauderdale, with five players scoring in double figures for the Sharks. NSU's First Team All-SSC Mark Matthews recorded a 24-point / 10-rebound double double and Dwayne Gibson scored 22 to pace the Sharks (
Box). NSU then hosted and defeated No. 5 Barry University, 88-77, in the semifinals on Saturday evening. Two-time National Player of the Week Connor Zinaich led all scorers with 27 points, followed closely by Matthews with 25 (
Box). With the play of Matthews, Gibson, and Zinaich the Sharks advance to the program’s first SSC tournament final.
Florida Southern battled to defeat No. 6 Saint Leo University in Lakeland during the quarterfinal round. With the game tied at 78, Slinky Jones had a put-back layup as time expired to give the Moccasins an 80-78 buzzer-beating win. SSC Player of the Year Jonathan Lawton had 24 points while All-SSC Second Team member Brett Hanson poured in 29 points for the Moccasins (
Box). Florida Southern defeated No. 3 Lynn University, 74-65, during the semifinals in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night. Jack Rauch pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds, including six offensive boards, and poured in nine points in the #2/#3 seed upset. Rauch was the only SSC starter not to score double digits, Slinky Jones paced FSC with 19 points (
Box).
Matchup History
Nova Southeastern won the first matchup between the programs this season, 117-95, on December 29th in Fort Lauderdale. Florida Southern won the second game, 87-82, which was played in Lakeland on February 2nd. Prior to Saturday's meeting in the finals, NSU and FSC have only met twice in the SSC tournament. Most recently, No. 2 Florida Southern defeated No. 7 Nova Southeastern, 79-69, in Lakeland during the 2011 quarterfinals. In 2006, No. 1 Florida Southern bested No. 8 Nova Southeastern, 78-58, during the quarterfinal round in Lakeland. While NSU is playing for its first conference postseason title, FSC is gunning for a 24th tournament trophy.
Tournament Finals Information:
The 2019 Sunshine State Conference Women's Basketball Championship finals, tip-off on Sunday, March 10th. Both men's and women's semifinals and finals will be held at the Rick Case Arena at the Don Taft University Center in Fort Lauderdale
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Please contact SSC Assistant Commissioner Robert Brennecke with any questions or media inquiries.