Melbourne, Florida – Panther Basketball was back at home this afternoon to take on the number one team in the country, Nova Southeastern.

SSC PLAY – GAME SEVENTEEN
Final: Florida Tech Panthers 85, Nova Southeastern Sharks 96
Records: Florida Tech (10-15, 6-11 SSC) | Nova Southeastern (20-1, 15-1 SSC)
Location: Clemente Center | Melbourne, Florida

GAME NOTES:
First Half:

• It was the Panthers who struck first this afternoon when Matt Daulerio hit a three from the wing to open the scoring.
• The Sharks responded and both teams traded baskets, leading to a tie game at 13 with fourteen minutes left in the first half.
• The Panthers then held a small lead for the next four minutes with buckets from Xavier Ford-Belton, Ty Harpring and Brewer Nitcher.
• Leading 21-20, Tech went on a clutch 9-0 run by way of three straight threes and pushed their advantage to double digits.
• While it looked like the Panthers were in full control, Nova stormed back with two separate unanswered runs.
• Despite the runs, Tech still held the lead for over ten minutes, but only led by one point with three minutes left in the half.
• A two-minute scoring drought allowed NSU to tie the scoreline and eventually take the lead with under a minute to go, as they took a two-point lead into the break.

HALFTIME SCORE - Florida Tech 46, Nova Southeastern 48
Second Half:

• After a gritty first half from the Panthers, the second half did not start in their favor. Nova took full control of the game with a 21-6 run to hold a 19-point lead after the first seven minutes.
• Points from Ca'Darrius Sowell, Ty Harpring and Brewer Nitcher helped the Tech offense find momentum, but the Sharks continued to score.
• With under ten minutes left in the game, the Nova lead grew to 25 points but threes from AJ Lieuwen and Grant Lovette kept a comeback chance alive.
• In the final four minutes of the game, the Tech defense earned stops in bunches and used an 11-0 run to give themselves a chance.
• Unfortunately for the Panthers, it was too little too late as Nova held on the win the game.

FINAL SCORE - Florida Tech 85, Nova Southeastern 96

UP NEXT: The Panthers will hit the road again next week as they travel to face Florida Southern on Wednesday, February 18^th at 7:30 PM.

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