Eastern Kentucky's 95-92 victory over Bellarmine marked a thrilling conclusion to their matchup at Knights Hall. The Colonels outlasted the Knights by a margin of three points, securing a hard-fought win. The first half saw Eastern Kentucky take an early lead, outscoring Bellarmine 53-42. However, the Knights mounted a strong comeback in the second half, ultimately falling short by a narrow margin.
In a game where Eastern Kentucky's offense was able to overcome a slight disadvantage in NET rankings, the Colonels' balanced performance was spearheaded by an exceptional individual effort. Bellarmine, ranked #286 in NET, pushed the Colonels, ranked #283, to their limits, but ultimately came up short. The final score, 95-92, was a testament to the Colonels' resilience and determination.
MJ Williams led the Colonels with a well-rounded performance, contributing 19 points on 5-12 shooting from the field, including a 5-9 showing from beyond the arc. He also pulled down 6 rebounds and dished out a team-high 9 assists, showcasing his ability to control the tempo of the game. Williams' efficiency from three-point range was a key factor in Eastern Kentucky's victory.
Juan Cranford Jr. and Turner Buttry also played pivotal roles in the Colonels' 95-92 win over Bellarmine. Cranford Jr. chipped in 18 points, making 4 of his 7 three-point attempts, while Buttry added 16 points, connecting on all 4 of his three-point shots. Both players provided a spark off the bench, helping to maintain Eastern Kentucky's lead down the stretch.
Jack Karasinski's 31 points led Bellarmine's scoring effort, but despite his efficient shooting from the field and beyond the arc, he struggled to secure rebounds and create assists. His 2 rebounds and 2 assists were notable deficiencies in his otherwise impressive performance. Karasinski's 6 three-pointers were a key factor in keeping Bellarmine in the game, but ultimately, his team fell short.
Brian Waddell provided a well-rounded effort, contributing 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. However, his shooting efficiency was not as high as Karasinski's, and he struggled from the free throw line, making only 3 of his 4 attempts. Waddell's 10-for-11 shooting from the field was a bright spot, but it was not enough to propel Bellarmine to victory. Tyler Doyle's 9 points and 7 assists were notable, but his lack of rebounding and scoring punch outside of Karasinski and Waddell hindered the team's ability to compete with Eastern Kentucky's balanced attack.
The supporting casts for both Eastern Kentucky and Bellarmine largely played within their established season parameters.
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Final
The pre-game prediction of a Bellarmine victory by 2.8 points proved to be a misfire, as Eastern Kentucky emerged with a 3-point win. While the model correctly identified Bellarmine as the favorite, it failed to account for the Colonels' superior performance on the glass and from beyond the arc. Eastern Kentucky's ability to rebound at a higher rate than Bellarmine, a discrepancy that widened from a season average deficit to a significant advantage in this game, was a crucial factor in their victory.
Eastern Kentucky's increased efficiency from three-point range, a 16.4 percentage point jump from their season average, was also a decisive factor. This improvement allowed the Colonels to maintain a high level of scoring efficiency despite Bellarmine's blistering offense, which shot at a season-best 80.2% from the field. In contrast, Eastern Kentucky's own shooting efficiency, while still strong at 73.1%, was not enough to overcome Bellarmine's shooting prowess, highlighting the Colonels' reliance on their rebounding and three-point shooting to secure the win.
The outcome of this game has significant implications for both teams' NCAA Tournament resumes. Eastern Kentucky's victory, its first Quad 1 win, provides a much-needed boost to its NET ranking, but its overall body of work remains limited. A 1-5 record in Quad 1 games and a 0-4 mark in Quad 2 games will likely result in a 13 or 14 seed for the Colonels, should they receive an at-large bid. Bellarmine, on the other hand, now sits at 0-2 in Quad 1 games and 0-4 in Quad 2 games, further solidifying its position as a likely First Four team, should it receive an at-large bid. This loss will likely result in a lower seed for the Knights.