BLUFFTON -- In just its second year of existence, the USCB men's basketball team exceeded expectations, finishing the season 21-10, reaching the Peach Belt Conference tournament championship, and boasting the most prolific scoring offense in the league for the second consecutive season. Under the leadership of head coach Ron Fudala, the Sand Sharks cemented themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the PBC and beyond.

Entering the season, USCB faced a significant challenge. The Sand Sharks top two scorers from the inagagural year departed, and Beaufort had to replace over 60 percent of its scoring as well as 50 percent of its rebounding. However, Fudala wasted no time revamping the roster. 

Key additions included experienced fifth-year senior Alejandro Ralat from Florida Atlantic and big man Pat Iriel from USC Upstate. The Sand Sharks also brought in talented newcomers Dominic Eason and Krishen Atwal. These fresh faces blended seamlessly with returning contributors Kenney Gaines, Nolan Paladugu, Kyle Polce, Kevaughn Price, and Tasso Sfanos.

Perhaps the biggest X-factors were Dylan Lewis and Hudson Norton, both returning from injuries and making an immediate impact on both ends of the court.

USCB's up-tempo, high-scoring offense was among the most electric in Division II basketball. For much of the season, Coach Fudala implemented a "five in, five out" substitution pattern, ensuring fresh legs were always on the floor and maximizing contributions from the entire roster.

The Sand Sharks finished the season averaging a league-best 89.5 points per game, while their fast-paced style also led to conference-leading marks in 3-point field goals, assists, steals, turnovers forced, and turnover margin. 

Offensively, Gaines led the way with 12.3 points per game, followed closely by Eason (11.5 PPG) and Price (10.5 PPG). However, USCB's true strength was its balanced attack, with multiple players capable of taking over any given night.

The excitement surrounding the Sand Sharks began in the preseason when USCB stunned Coker with a last-second buzzer-beater in an exhibition game. That momentum carried into the regular season opener at the Southeast Regional Crossover in St. Augustine, where USCB overcame a 21-point second-half deficit against Francis Marion. Polce's buzzer-beater sent the game to overtime, where Ralat erupted for 29 points to lead the Sand Sharks to a thrilling 104-101 victory.

The very next day, USCB once again cracked the 100-point mark, defeating Emory & Henry 104-102 in double overtime. The back-to-back overtime wins at the Southeast Regional Crossover set the tone for what would be a dramatic season filled with close contests and high-scoring affairs.

The Sand Sharks jumped out to a 6-0 record, marking the best start in program history before suffering their first loss to Savannah State in late November. The early-season success earned USCB its first-ever regional ranking, debuting at No. 8 in the Southeast Regional poll during week four.

A December road trip to Pennsylvania saw the Sand Sharks pick up statement victories, including an emotional win over Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). The matchup held special significance for Polce, who originally committed to IUP before following Coach Fudala to USCB after Fudala was named the Sand Sharks' head coach. It was also a homecoming of sorts for Fudala, who spent five seasons on the coaching staff for the Crimson Hawks before taking over at USCB.

As the wins piled up, so did the accolades. By week nine, USCB had risen as high as No. 4 in the regional rankings, proving they were among the top teams in the Southeast.

The Sand Sharks' PBC campaign featured several pivotal victories, notably their 83-80 triumph over then-No. 22 North Georgia on January 18. This game was a showcase of USCB's resilience and offensive prowess. The contest was a back-and-forth affair, characterized by 14 ties and 10 lead changes. In the final moments, USCB's dynamic offense and strategic plays secured the narrow victory, propelling them to the top of the PBC standings at that time.

This win not only bolstered the Sand Sharks' conference record but also solidified their reputation as a formidable force in the PBC, demonstrating their capacity to compete with and overcome nationally ranked opponents.

After an early conference loss to Augusta, USCB rattled off five straight PBC victories, highlighted by the North Georgia win.

Midseason setbacks against Flagler and No. 11 Columbus State forced the Sand Sharks to regroup, and they responded with a 24-point blowout of Clayton State. Key victories over Lander, Georgia Southwestern, and Georgia College & State University (GCSU) helped solidify USCB's position as a conference contender.

While the Sand Sharks suffered tough losses to North Georgia (OT) and rival USC Aiken, they quickly avenged the latter with a 100-88 overtime victory, showing resilience heading into the postseason.

USCB's strong finish earned them the No. 4 seed in the PBC tournament, securing a historic moment: the first-ever home PBC playoff game in school history across all sports.

With a sellout crowd packing "The Cove" for a "Black Out" event, the Sand Sharks defeated Lander 62-57, sending them to the conference semifinals in Columbus, Georgia.

Facing top-seeded Columbus State, ranked No. 6 nationally, the Sand Sharks shocked the PBC world, draining a tournament-record 18 three-pointers in a history-making upset. The 18 triples broke a tournament record that had stood for 16 years, marking USCB's first-ever win over a top-10 team.

While the run came to an end against USC Aiken in the PBC championship, USCB had officially put itself on the map as a power in the Southeast Region, and a National Championship contender.

Several Sand Sharks received postseason recognition:

• Dominic Eason – PBC Second Team All-Conference

• Kenney Gaines – PBC Third Team All-Conference

• Dylan Lewis – PBC Elite 18 Award Winner (recognizing athletic and academic excellence)

Despite falling just short of its first PBC title, the 2024-25 season will be remembered as a defining moment in USCB basketball history. Beaufort was the only team in the region to claim victories over both the top two ranked teams, grabbing a win against a top-10 and two wins over top-25 teams. With full NCAA Division II membership on the horizon, the Sand Sharks are primed for even bigger things in the coming years.

The Peach Belt—and soon the entire country—now knows: The Lowcountry is a premier destination for college basketball.