FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Saint Leo University men's basketball team closed out its week with a trip to south Florida for a Sunshine State Conference match up at the top-ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks on Saturday evening. The Sharks got off to a strong start and never looked back earning a 44-point win over the visiting Lions. Saint Leo falls to 7-9 overall and 2-6 in SSC play while #1 Nova Southeastern improves to 14-1 and 6-1 in conference play.   

Two Lions hit double-digit points with Tae Wilson leading the team with 12 and Logan Ryan added 11 points in the loss. Wilson also led the team with six rebounds and Trey Murray followed with five. Eric Jones had all three of Saint Leo's blocks in the game.

#1 NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 104, SAINT LEO 60

• Saint Leo suffered a 104-60 loss to Nova Southeastern, struggling against the Sharks' dominant offense and suffocating defense.
• Nova Southeastern shot an efficient 50% from the field and scored 60 points in the paint, exposing gaps in the Lions' interior defense.
• Turnovers plagued the Lions, as they committed 22, which Nova Southeastern converted into 30 points.
• Tae Wilson led Saint Leo with 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists, but also committed seven turnovers under intense defensive pressure.
• Brady Corso added eight points, but Saint Leo shot just 19.2% from beyond the arc (5-of-26), struggling to find rhythm from deep.
• Nova Southeastern's bench contributed 48 points, led by Ryker Cisarik with a game-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-4 from three.
• Saint Leo trailed 42-24 at halftime, unable to recover as Nova Southeastern outscored them 62-36 in the second half.
• The Lions were out rebounded 51-29, with Nova Southeastern grabbing 19 offensive boards that led to 16 second-chance points.
• Logan Ryan provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, including two three-pointers, but it wasn't enough to close the gap.
• Nova Southeastern's fast-break dominance was evident with 28 transition points, keeping the Lions on the back foot throughout the game.

UP NEXT
Saint Leo is off on Wednesday before hosting the Moccasins of Florida Southern next Saturday (Jan. 18). The Lions and the Mocs are scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. tip off in the Marion Bowman Activities Center.