The Pennsylvania Quakers pulled off a stunning 82-76 upset over the Cornell Big Red, defying their 28-net rank difference and silencing critics with a 6-point victory. TJ Power led the charge with 17 points and 8 rebounds, while Jay Jones added 17 points and 5 rebounds to seal the deal. Cornell's Jake Fiegen put up a valiant effort with 17 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Quakers' balanced attack, which saw 46 points scored in the second half.
TJ Power's 17 Points Marked His 5th Double-Digit Scoring Performance in Last 7 Games
The game got off to a slow start, with Pennsylvania leading 36-31 at halftime. However, the Quakers came alive in the second half, scoring 46 points and holding off a late Cornell surge to secure the 82-76 win. Cornell's Big Red outscored Pennsylvania 45-46 in the second half, but the Quakers' first-half lead proved insurmountable. The win marked a significant upset, as Cornell entered the game with a NET ranking of 145, 28 spots ahead of Pennsylvania's 173 ranking. The Quakers' victory also marked their 13th win of the season, improving their record to 13-10.
TJ Power and Jay Jones led the way for Pennsylvania, combining for 34 points and 13 rebounds. Power's 17 points and 8 rebounds were a game-high, while Jones added 17 points and 5 rebounds. For Cornell, Jake Fiegen put up an impressive 17 points and 8 rebounds, while Cooper Noard chipped in with 13 points. Kaspar Sepp added 10 points and 8 rebounds for the Big Red, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Quakers' balanced attack. Pennsylvania's AJ Levine also had a strong game, scoring 16 points to help seal the win.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The Quakers outscored Cornell 46-45 in the second half, with both teams shooting over 50% from the field. Pennsylvania shot 51.9% from the field, while Cornell shot 50.9%. The Quakers also outrebounded Cornell 38-35, with TJ Power and Jay Jones combining for 13 rebounds. Cornell's Jake Fiegen led all players with 8 rebounds, while Kaspar Sepp added 8 rebounds for the Big Red. The game saw a total of 158 points scored, with both teams combining for 54 points in the paint.
The CHD Scout predicted a close game, with Pennsylvania winning by just 1.1 points. While the final margin was 6 points, the model was correct in predicting a Quakers victory. The predicted score was 82-81, which was remarkably close to the actual final score of 82-76. The model's accuracy is a reflection of its ability to analyze team statistics and predict outcomes. In this case, the model correctly identified Pennsylvania as the winner, despite Cornell's higher NET ranking.
The win marked a significant Quad 3 victory for Pennsylvania, improving their record against Quad 3 opponents. The loss was also a Quad 3 setback for Cornell, who fell to 12-11 on the season. The game had real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes, with Pennsylvania's win potentially boosting their NET ranking. Cornell's loss, on the other hand, could hurt their chances of securing a postseason bid. The Quakers' 13-10 record now includes a notable upset win, which could help them in the eyes of the selection committee.
Pennsylvania's next game is scheduled for February 17th, when they will face off against the Princeton Tigers. Cornell, meanwhile, want to bounce back on February 18th against the Columbia Lions. Both games matters for the teams' tournament hopes, and will provide an opportunity for them to build on their current momentum.