Coastal Carolina's AJ Dancler stole the show at Fant-Ewing Coliseum, scoring 32 points and grabbing 6 rebounds to lead his team to an 83-79 win over Louisiana-Monroe. The Chanticleers' victory was predicted by CHD Scout, who forecasted an 8.1-point margin in favor of Coastal Carolina. Although the actual margin was narrower, at 4 points, the outcome was still in line with expectations.
The game got off to a fast-paced start, with Coastal Carolina taking a 43-38 lead into halftime. Louisiana-Monroe's Krystian Lewis was unstoppable in the first half, scoring 12 of his 20 points to keep the Warhawks within striking distance. However, Dancler's impressive performance allowed Coastal Carolina to maintain their advantage throughout the contest. The Chanticleers' lead ballooned to as many as 10 points in the second half, but Louisiana-Monroe refused to back down, with MJ Russell and Renars Sondors combining for 36 points to keep their team in the game.
Despite a strong effort from the Warhawks, Coastal Carolina's supporting cast played a crucial role in securing the win. Rasheed Jones contributed 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Tristan Thompson added 9 points off the bench. The Chanticleers' balanced attack proved too much for Louisiana-Monroe to handle, as they shot 49% from the field and committed just 12 turnovers.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The loss drops Louisiana-Monroe to 3-20 on the season, while Coastal Carolina improves to 14-10. As a Quadrant 4 game for both teams, the result has real consequences for their tournament resumes. For Coastal Carolina, the win helps to bolster their profile, albeit slightly, as they seek to strengthen their case for a postseason bid. With a current net ranking of 222, the Chanticleers still have work to do to climb the ladder, but victories like this one can only help their cause.
On the other hand, Louisiana-Monroe's defeat is a tough pill to swallow, given their already slim chances of making a deep postseason run. As a Quadrant 4 opponent, the Warhawks were looking to pull off an upset to boost their own resume, but instead, they fell just short. With a net ranking of 359, Louisiana-Monroe faces an uphill battle to turn their season around.
In the end, AJ Dancler's outstanding performance was the difference-maker, as Coastal Carolina held off a determined Louisiana-Monroe team. The win may not have been pretty, but it's a valuable addition to the Chanticleers' resume as they push towards the postseason. As for Louisiana-Monroe, they'll look to regroup and refocus, hoping to string together some wins and salvage their season.