Last Second Free Throws Sink No. 1 Sharks in Huntsville

Two free throws with 0.3 seconds remaining sank the No. 1 ranked Nova Southeastern men’s basketball team 94-92 against Alabama Huntsville in Huntsville, Alabama.

Nova Southeastern University Athletics reported that the season’s second game brought a tough result for the Sharks at SportsMED Arena in Spragins Hall. The defeat leaves Nova Southeastern at 1-1 overall with a 0-0 record in the Sunshine State Conference. Meanwhile, Alabama Huntsville improved its record to 3-0 overall and 0-0 in the Gulf South Conference.

The matchup marked the first time Alabama Huntsville faced the Sharks in eight meetings. Playing in front of a loud home crowd, the Chargers hit early shots to control the majority of the first half, building a lead of up to ten points.

The Sharks slowly worked their way back into the contest before halftime. Eli Allen passed to Wofford transfer Brendan Rigsbee, who hit a three-pointer with six seconds left on the clock to give Nova Southeastern a 46-44 lead at the break.

Alabama Huntsville responded quickly after halftime, putting together a 14-4 run before the first media timeout of the second period. That burst helped the Chargers erase the deficit and rebuild their earlier ten-point lead.

Both teams battled closely from the under-eight media timeout down to the final minute. Jeremy Thomas II scored on a dunk with 60 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 89-89, marking the last field goal either side would manage on the night.

With 15 seconds remaining, Huntsville held a 91-90 lead when Bryce Mason went to the line and converted one of two free throw attempts. That miss allowed Jared Berry to draw a foul for Nova Southeastern, and Berry sank both shots to tie the game at 92-92 with just nine seconds left on the clock.

On the ensuing fast break, Xavier Martinez missed a layup for Huntsville, but contact was whistled against Berry. That foul sent Aiden Weaver to the free throw line with 0.3 seconds remaining, where he hit both shots to secure the victory for the Chargers.

Jeremy Thomas II paced the Sharks with 27 points and nine rebounds in just his second game in a Nova Southeastern uniform, shooting 12 of 14 from the field. Berry contributed 21 points and three steals, while Rigsbee finished with 12 points, four assists, and four steals.

Alabama Huntsville relied on strong shooting across its roster, finishing the night above 55% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc with 13 made three-pointers. Joshua Gibson led the Chargers off the bench with 18 points.

Player	Team	Points	Key Statistics
Jeremy Thomas II	Nova Southeastern	27	9 rebounds, 3 assists
Jared Berry	Nova Southeastern	21	3 steals
Brendan Rigsbee	Nova Southeastern	12	4 assists, 4 steals
Joshua Gibson	Alabama Huntsville	18	Bench high scorer

The Sharks open their Sunshine State Conference schedule with the NSU home opener on Wednesday, November 18 against Florida Tech, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 P.M.

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