The North Alabama Lions pulled off a stunning 84-78 upset over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, defying their 340 NET ranking and dealing a significant blow to Eastern Kentucky's already slim tournament hopes. This loss drops Eastern Kentucky to 9-18, and with a NET ranking of 274, their chances of making a deep postseason run are dwindling rapidly. The Colonels had been averaging 80 points per game over their last 5 contests, but their defense, which had been allowing 83.4 points per game during that stretch, ultimately was their downfall. North Alabama, on the other hand, had been struggling, averaging just 65.6 points per game over their last 5 games, but they found a way to score 84 points against a team that was expected to handle them with ease.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage. Eastern Kentucky's Jalen Cooper was a force to be reckoned with, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of North Alabama. The Lions had three players score in double figures, including Donte Bacchus, who led the team with 21 points and 9 rebounds. Corneilous Williams was also a key contributor, scoring 16 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. North Alabama's ability to crash the boards and limit Eastern Kentucky's second-chance opportunities was a crucial factor in their victory, as they outrebounded the Colonels 45-38. With 5 minutes remaining in the game, North Alabama held a slim 2-point lead, but they managed to stretch it to 6 points with just 1 minute left, thanks in large part to Bacchus's clutch shooting, which included 3 three-pointers in the final 5 minutes of the game.
The stat line doesn't do justice to the impact that Bacchus had on the game, as he seemed to come up with big play after big play when it mattered most. Williams, on the other hand, was a dominant force on the glass, grabbing 15 rebounds and limiting Eastern Kentucky's opportunities for second-chance points. For Eastern Kentucky, Cooper was a bright spot, but MJ Williams, who scored 15 points, disappeared in the second half, scoring just 2 points after the break. Montavious Myrick, who scored 14 points, was also a key contributor, but his efforts were ultimately not enough to overcome the balanced attack of North Alabama. With 2 minutes left in the game, Eastern Kentucky trailed by 4 points, but they were unable to muster a comeback, thanks in large part to North Alabama's stifling defense, which held the Colonels to just 2 points in the final 2 minutes of the game.
As the final buzzer sounded, it became clear that CHD Scout's prediction of an Eastern Kentucky victory by 6.3 points had been way off the mark.
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The model failed to account for North Alabama's ability to shoot 47.5% from the field, including 40% from three-point range, which was a significant departure from their season averages. The Lions had been struggling to find their shooting stroke, averaging just 41.3% from the field over their last 5 games, but they found a way to get hot against Eastern Kentucky. The Colonels, on the other hand, had been relying on their high-powered offense to carry them, but they were unable to overcome their defensive struggles, which had been a problem all season. With a defensive efficiency rating of 104.2, Eastern Kentucky has been struggling to stop opponents, and North Alabama took full advantage, scoring 84 points and handing the Colonels a devastating loss.
The loss is a significant blow to Eastern Kentucky's tournament hopes, and it raises questions about their ability to compete against quality opponents. With a record of 9-18, the Colonels are running out of time to make a push for the postseason, and their NET ranking of 274 is not going to get them very far. North Alabama, on the other hand, is still a long shot to make the tournament, but this win gives them a glimmer of hope. With a record of 8-17, the Lions are still well below .500, but they have shown that they are capable of competing against quality opponents. As the season enters its final stretch, it will be interesting to see if North Alabama can build on this momentum and make a push for the postseason.
The win is a significant boost to North Alabama's resume, and it could potentially play a role in their tournament chances. With a quad 4 win over Eastern Kentucky, the Lions have added a much-needed quality victory to their resume, and they want to build on this momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season. For Eastern Kentucky, the loss is a devastating blow, and it could potentially knock them out of tournament contention. With a NET ranking of 274 and a record of 9-18, the Colonels are running out of time to make a push for the postseason, and this loss may have sealed their fate. As the season enters its final stretch, it will be interesting to see how these two teams respond to this result, and whether North Alabama can continue to build on their momentum.
The trends heading into this game suggested that Eastern Kentucky was the better team, with the Colonels averaging 80 points per game over their last 5 contests, while North Alabama was averaging just 65.6 points per game. However, the Lions were able to overcome their struggles and pull off the upset, thanks in large part to their balanced attack and stifling defense. With 10 minutes remaining in the game, North Alabama held a slim 5-point lead, but they managed to stretch it to 10 points with just 5 minutes left, thanks in large part to their ability to limit Eastern Kentucky's second-chance opportunities. The Colonels were unable to muster a comeback, and the Lions were able to hold on for the 84-78 victory.
In the end, this game will be remembered as a significant upset, and it could potentially have major implications for the tournament picture. North Alabama's win over Eastern Kentucky is a reflection of their ability to compete against quality opponents, and it gives them a glimmer of hope as they head into the final stretch of the season. With a record of 8-17, the Lions are still a long shot to make the tournament, but this win shows that they are capable of pulling off big upsets. As the season enters its final stretch, it will be interesting to see how these two teams respond to this result, and whether North Alabama can continue to build on their momentum. The Lions have 5 games remaining on their schedule, and they must win at least 3 of them if they hope to make a push for the postseason. With their next game against a tough opponent, North Alabama must be at the top of their game if they hope to pull off another upset.