Sharks Drop 1st Conference Match

The Miami Dade Sharks dropped a hard-fought 78–70 decision to Indian River State College on Saturday afternoon as the MDC battled uphill after a fast start by the hosts.

Miami Dade opened the night trading punches early but faced a six-point deficit at the break after Indian River closed the first half on a late push to take a 40–34 advantage. The Sharks stayed within striking distance throughout the second half yet could not overcome the rebounding margin and timely perimeter shooting by the Pioneers.

Anthony Gilkes delivered a standout performance, pouring in a game-high 27 points on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting while knocking down five triples. Randy Smith added 14 points and dished out five assists while David Verstraeten chipped in nine points and two blocks as Miami Dade continued to pressure defensively.

Indian River State College controlled the glass with a 44–29 rebounding edge, creating extra possessions that proved decisive down the stretch. Adam Squire led the way for the Pioneers with 19 points including six three-pointers while Isiah Cameron provided a spark off the bench with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Despite shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc, Miami Dade was unable to capitalize consistently at the free throw line and saw the deficit hold steady in the final minutes as Indian River executed late.

The Sharks will look to regroup and turn the page quickly as they continue conference play with lessons learned from a competitive road test.