Elite Division II Powers Collide in National Semifinal

PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — A marquee matchup between two of the nation’s most dominant men’s basketball teams will decide a spot in the NCAA Division II national championship game when seed Lander faces top-seeded Nova Southeastern on Friday at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

The national semifinal, scheduled for March 27, 2026, pits the Bearcats (29-5) against the Sharks (31-1) in a battle of contrasting strengths. Lander, winners of 12 straight, has advanced with methodical, guard-driven execution. Nova Southeastern has blitzed opponents with a high-octane offense, averaging 90.1 points per game during its current 18-game win streak.

The spotlight will shine on two elite guards. Lander’s floor general, Jacob Daniels, enters on a remarkable playmaking run, averaging 16.1 points and 7.4 assists over his last eight games. He posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 assists in Wednesday’s 77-74 Elite Eight victory over Daemen.

He will be matched by Nova Southeastern’s prolific scorer Ross Reeves. The Sharks’ star is averaging 24.5 points during the postseason and dropped 31 points in 40 minutes during the team’s Sweet 16 win over Black Hills State. His ability to score from all levels fuels the nation’s top-ranked offense.

Lander’s path has been built on defense and balance, with Greyson Pritzl (20 points vs. Daemen) and Navaughn Maise providing consistent secondary scoring. Nova Southeastern counters with depth, as evidenced by Jaxon Nap and Bennett Kayser providing crucial support alongside Reeves.

The Sharks’ lone loss came on Jan. 17. Since then, they have won by an average margin of 18.7 points. Lander, however, is battle-tested, with 10 of its last 12 wins coming by 10 points or fewer.

Friday’s winner will advance to Saturday’s national championship game against the winner of the other semifinal between Cal State San Marcos and Southern Nazarene.