Nova Southeastern’s run ends with loss in Division II Elite 8
Nova Southeastern’s historic postseason run ended Wednesday as the fourth-seeded Sharks were defeated by No. 5 seed Saint Anselm, 91-81, in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Division II men’s basketball tournament.
Mark Matthews had 31 points and 13 rebounds for NSU, but it wasn’t enough against the Hawks’ threepoint barrage, which included 11 triples in the first half at Evansville, Ind.
Tim Guers’ 31 points led Saint Anselm (26-5).
The Sharks, who reached the tournament for the first time, finished 29-4.
David Dennis finished with 14 points in his final collegiate game for NSU.
The Sharks shot 50 percent from the field and committed just three turnovers, yet still found themselves trailing 52-45 at the break in large part due to Saint Anselm's ridiculous 11-of-19 display from beyond the arc.
After having some success late in the first half, NSU coach Jim Crutchfield stuck with a zone defense for much of the second, as the Sharks remained within six following a Matthews lay-in with 13:46 remaining.
But any time Nova Southeastern appeared on the verge of making a run, the Hawks had an answer — particularly from deep. A Cody Ball three pushed Saint Anselm back ahead by a dozen. Eventually, one of Guer’s six treys extended the lead to 19 with 7:43 to play.
THOUGHTS WITH FSU’S COFER
Phil Cofer is not with Florida State but he was very much on the minds of his teammates as they practiced for Thursday’s West Regional semifinal of the NCAA Tournament.
The Seminoles are in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year but the senior forward is in Georgia preparing for his father’s funeral on Saturday. Mike Cofer, a former NFL linebacker, died on March 21 following a long illness.
Florida State (29-7) will face top-seeded Gonzaga, with the winner facing either Michigan or Texas Tech on Saturday for a spot in the Final Four.
Fellow senior Terance Mann said he has talked to Cofer over the past couple days and said he is doing better.
“He just wished us luck, told us he will be watching, just talking about the game and what our game plan was,” Mann said.
Cofer received a call in the locker room in Hartford, Connecticut, after Florida State’s first-round victory over Vermont informing him of his father’s death. Mike Cofer, who played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Detroit Lions, battled amyloidosis for more than a decade.
Phil Cofer remained with the team for their secondround victory over Murray State. Coach Leonard Hamilton said Cofer originally intended to join the team in California, but those plans changed once he returned home and learned about the arrangements.
WOMEN
Tennessee: Coach Holly Warlick was fired after a season in which the Lady Vols barely kept their NCAA Tournament streak alive and then promptly lost in the opening round. Warlick won 72 percent of her games after taking over for Pat Summitt in 2012 but couldn’t approach the heights her Hall of Fame mentor and predecessor had reached.