The Delaware Blue Hens pulled off a stunning 68-66 upset over the Florida International Panthers, with Justyn Fernandez leading the charge with 21 points and 9 rebounds. This victory marked a significant upset, as Delaware, ranked 289 in the NET rankings, took down Florida International, ranked 192, by a margin of 2 points. The Blue Hens' record improved to 8-16, while the Panthers fell to 11-13. Delaware's 39 second-half points was the difference-maker, as they outscored Florida International 39-36 in the final 20 minutes.
Justyn Fernandez's 21 Points Marked His 3rd 20-Point Game of the Season
The game was closely contested from the start, with Florida International taking a 30-29 lead into halftime. However, Delaware came out strong in the second half, scoring 39 points to secure the win. The Panthers' Eric Dibami had a notable performance, scoring 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Blue Hens' balanced attack. Delaware's Christian Bliss added 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Tyler Houser chipped in with 17 points and 7 rebounds. The Panthers' Zawdie Jackson and Ashton Williamson scored 14 and 11 points, respectively, but their team's 36 second-half points weren't enough to keep pace with Delaware. The Blue Hens' 29 first-half points were a low mark, but their 39-point outburst in the second half sealed the deal.
Justyn Fernandez was the star of the show for Delaware, scoring 21 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Christian Bliss and Tyler Houser were also key contributors, scoring 17 points each. For Florida International, Eric Dibami's 15 points and 13 rebounds led the way, while Zawdie Jackson and Ashton Williamson added 14 and 11 points, respectively. Dibami's double-double was his 5th of the season, and his 13 rebounds marked a season high. Fernandez's 21 points marked his 3rd 20-point game of the season, and his 9 rebounds were just 1 shy of his season high.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Delaware outrebounded Florida International 38-35, with Justyn Fernandez and Christian Bliss combining for 15 rebounds. The Blue Hens also shot 43.1% from the field, compared to Florida International's 41.4%. Delaware's 39 second-half points were a season high, and their 68 total points marked their 3rd-highest output of the season. Florida International's Eric Dibami had a game-high 13 rebounds, and his 15 points marked his 10th double-digit scoring game of the season. The Panthers' 66 points were their 2nd-lowest output in the last 5 games.
The CHD Scout prediction model was way off here, predicting a 10.1-point victory for Florida International. Instead, Delaware pulled off the 2-point upset, marking a significant miss for the model. The predicted score was 80-70 in favor of Florida International, but the actual score was 68-66 in favor of Delaware. This game marked the 5th time this season that the CHD Scout model has missed the mark by 10 or more points.
This upset victory marked a significant boost to Delaware's resume, as they picked up a Quadrant 3 win. The Blue Hens' NET ranking of 289 will likely see a significant improvement, potentially jumping 20-30 spots. For Florida International, this loss marked a Quadrant 4 defeat, which will likely hurt their NET ranking of 192. The Panthers' 11-13 record doesn't look as strong with this loss, and their chances of making a postseason push took a hit. Delaware's win improved their record to 8-16, and they want to build on this momentum in their next game.
Delaware's next game is scheduled for February 15th against the Hofstra Pride, while Florida International will face the North Florida Ospreys on February 17th. Both teams want to bounce back from this game, with Delaware riding high after their upset victory and Florida International seeking to regroup after a tough loss. The Blue Hens want to build on their 39-point second-half outburst, while the Panthers will aim to improve their 41.4% field goal percentage.