Northern Colorado's Ring Nyeri stole the show at the Bank of Colorado Arena, scoring 23 points and grabbing 5 rebounds to lead the Bears to a 74-71 win over Eastern Washington. The victory marked a strong performance by Nyeri, who was instrumental in Northern Colorado's ability to hold off a late surge by the Eagles.
At halftime, Northern Colorado held a slim 32-31 lead, setting the stage for a tightly contested second half. The Bears came out strong, with Nyeri and Brock Wisne leading the charge. Wisne finished with 13 points and 9 rebounds, while Quinn Denker added 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. The trio's balanced attack allowed Northern Colorado to build a lead, but Eastern Washington refused to back down.
Alton Hamilton IV was the catalyst for the Eagles' comeback, scoring 17 points and pulling down 8 rebounds. Kiree Huie and Johnny Radford also made significant contributions, scoring 12 and 11 points, respectively. Despite their best efforts, Eastern Washington was unable to overcome the deficit, falling just short in the end.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
CHD Scout predicted a Northern Colorado win by 10.1 points, but the actual margin was much slimmer. The Bears' 3-point victory was a reflection of the competitive nature of the game, with both teams leaving everything on the court. In the end, Northern Colorado's strong performance and timely plays made the difference.
The win improves Northern Colorado's record to 13-10, while Eastern Washington falls to 5-17. This game was classified as a Quadrant 4 game for Northern Colorado and a Quadrant 3 game for Eastern Washington. For the Bears, the victory is a solid addition to their resume, but it may not carry significant weight in terms of tournament implications. Nevertheless, it's a win that Northern Colorado will take, especially given the strong performance from Nyeri.
As for Eastern Washington, the loss is another tough pill to swallow in a season that has been marked by struggles. Despite the valiant effort from Hamilton IV and his teammates, the Eagles were unable to secure the win. The loss will likely have minimal impact on their tournament chances, which were already slim.
In terms of resume implications, Northern Colorado's win over Eastern Washington is a modest boost. The Bears' net ranking of 178 is a reflection of their inconsistent play, and they must string together more wins like this to make a serious push for the tournament. For now, they will take the win and look to build on the strong performance from Nyeri and his teammates.