NSU Men’s Basketball Ends National Title Repeat Bid: Five Key Takeaways
The NSU Sharks’ rare loss came in the national semifinals in Pittsburgh. Top-ranked NSU fell 91-81 to 23rd-ranked Lander, ending its run.
The season closed with a 31-2 record. Since 2022-23, the program is 135-6. The Sharks had four straight Final Four trips and two Division II national championships.
Game turning points
NSU erased a big halftime deficit but could not sustain momentum. The comeback tied the game late in the second half, but Lander answered with a decisive run.
1. The comeback
NSU trailed 42-27 with 1:10 left in the first half. Bennett Kayser tied the game at 58 with free throws with 10:52 left in the second half.
Immediately after the tie, Lander produced a 9-0 spurt. That stretch swung control back to Lander for the remainder of the contest.
2. The point guard
Dallas Graziani, a 5-foot-8 guard, was named a Division II All-American earlier in the week. He closed his six-year college career with 15 rebounds and seven assists.
Graziani struggled as a shooter, finishing 5-of-20 from the floor. He reflected on gratitude for the opportunity and the program’s support.
3. The rebounder
Senior forward Jaxon Nap finished with 17 points. He also grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds and added three steals.
Nap credited teammates for boxing out and helping secure rebounds. He praised the group effort on the glass.
4. The scorer
Ryan Reeves entered the game as NSU’s leading scorer at 23.1 points per game. He scored 31 points in Wednesday’s quarterfinal against Black Hills State.
Against Lander, Reeves managed 16 points on 6-of-22 shooting. He went 0-for-2 from three-point range in the semifinal.
5. The legacy
Coach Jim Crutchfield expressed pride in his team despite the loss. He highlighted the effort and the season’s accomplishments.
The Sharks shot 32.6 percent overall and hit 2-of-16 from beyond the arc. The 2025-2026 campaign produced another Sunshine State Conference title and a South Region crown.
What this means
The defeat ended NSU men’s basketball hopes to repeat as national champions. The program’s consistency remains historic.
Filmogaz.com covered the semifinal and the five key takeaways that explain the result. The Sharks will enter the offseason with a deep roster history and high expectations.
