The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NASHAD Mackey did not have an opportunity to suit up for the Embry-Riddle Eagles as a player in the NCAA Division II National Tournament, but as a graduate assistant, his coaching staff has led the programme to a history-making season that continues in the Sweet 16 tonight.

Mackey’s Eagles (24-9) are the no.3 seed and will face the no.1 ranked Nova Southeastern Sharks (30-0) for the South Region Championship 7pm tonight at the Rick Case Arena in Davie, Florida.

ERU opened the tournament with an 82-60 win over West Alabama and followed with an 82-67 win over Alabama Huntsville.

The Sharks have a pair of dominant wins over the Eagles this season - 93-71 and 94-85.

This season marks the ERU’s NCAA Division II Tournament debut after they previously received an at-large bid in 2020. However, the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Eagles and Sharks were slated to meet in the opening round of the 2020 event. The programme’s previous postseason appearances came when ERU was a member of the NAIA (1991-2015).

In July 2020, Mackey made his transition from player to graduate assistant coach.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to be back in the Embry-Riddle environment, surrounded by all these amazing people, the staff and this wonderful group of guys,” Mackey said in a statement to ERU Athletics at the time of his announcement.

“I am truly grateful to be an Eagle again and work side-by-side with a talented coaching staff and do big things for this university.”

Mackey concluded his collegiate basketball playing career as one of the programme’s all-time leaders.

In his two-year run with the Eagles, he was a two-time Sunshine State Conference All-Conference performer. He registered 39 double-doubles in 50 career games in an Eagle uniform, averaging 17.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. He was the only Eagle to average a double-double for his Embry-Riddle career.

Mackey’s scoring average ranks fourth all-time in Eagle history, while his 12.2 boards per outing is easily the top mark in 31 seasons of ERU basketball. His career totals also include second all-time in free throw percentage (.870) and eighth in blocked shot average (1.1). “From the very first day he committed to our university and basketball programme, Nashad earned the utmost respect and trust from his coaches and teammates in his leadership ability at the very highest level.”

Head coach Steve Ridder said to ERU Athletics:

“Nashad is a born leader who has a tremendously high basketball IQ, relentless work ethic, discipline, great communication skills and a burning desire to impact other people’s lives as a servant-leader. He is a tremendous example of what Embry-Riddle University, and specifically our athletic programme, is all about.”

Mackey transferred to the Eagles and NCAA Division II after he posted stellar individual numbers and garnered postseason awards at JuCo.

During his stint with Daytona State College Falcons, he was named the Mid- Florida Conference Player of the Year and First team All-State in the conference as a sophomore.