Northern Arizona Stuns Eastern Washington in Major Upset, 92-86

In a stunning turn of events, Northern Arizona pulled off a monumental upset at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome, taking down Eastern Washington 92-86. This outcome is all the more remarkable considering the pre-game expectations, which had Northern Arizona barely edging out Eastern Washington by a single point. Instead, the Lumberjacks dominated the first half, leading 52-35 at the break, and managed to hold off a fierce Eastern Washington comeback in the second half.

Ryan Abelman was the star of the show for Northern Arizona, pouring in 20 points to lead his team to victory. He was supported by a strong performance from Karl Poom, who chipped in 16 points and 9 rebounds, and Chris Komin, who added 15 points. On the other side, Isaiah Moses was unstoppable for Eastern Washington, scoring a game-high 30 points in a valiant effort to will his team to victory. Despite Moses' heroics, Eastern Washington was unable to overcome the significant deficit they faced at halftime.

The first half was a masterclass in offense for Northern Arizona, as they shot their way to a 17-point lead. However, Eastern Washington refused to back down, mounting a spirited comeback in the second half. The Eagles outscored Northern Arizona 51-40 in the final 20 minutes, but it was too little, too late. Jojo Anderson and Kiree Huie provided support for Moses with 13 points each, but it was not enough to overcome the Lumberjacks' strong start.

CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Northern Arizona winning by a single point, and while the margin was slightly larger than expected, the prediction ultimately proved correct. Northern Arizona's victory is a significant upset, considering Eastern Washington's higher net ranking coming into the game. The win is a major boost for Northern Arizona's resume, even if it is classified as a Quad 4 victory.

The loss is a tough pill to swallow for Eastern Washington, who also suffered a Quad 4 defeat. With a current net ranking of 251, the Eagles' tournament chances are already slim, and this loss does little to help their cause. On the other hand, Northern Arizona's net ranking of 309 makes this win a crucial one, even if it is not a particularly impressive victory in terms of opponent quality. As the season wears on, the Lumberjacks must continue to rack up wins like this one if they hope to make a push for the postseason. For now, they can bask in the glory of a major upset, one that will surely be remembered for the rest of the season.