In a shocking turn of events, Northeastern pulled off a stunning upset over Elon, defeating the Phoenix 85-78 at the Cabot Center. The Huskies, who entered the game with a 6-14 record, were not given much of a chance against the 12-9 Phoenix, but they proved their doubters wrong with a spirited performance. This victory marks a significant upset, as Northeastern's net ranking of 248 is substantially lower than Elon's ranking of 177.
The game got off to a tight start, with Northeastern taking a slim 41-39 lead into halftime. However, it was in the second half that the Huskies really began to assert their dominance, outscoring Elon 44-39 to secure the win. William Kermoury was the star of the show for Northeastern, pouring in 31 points and dishing out 5 assists to lead his team to victory. Xavier Abreu also made significant contributions, scoring 22 points to help propel the Huskies to the upset.
Elon's Bryson Cokley did everything he could to try and will his team to victory, finishing with an impressive 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Chandler Cuthrell and Randall Pettus II also had strong games for the Phoenix, scoring 19 and 12 points, respectively. However, it was not enough to overcome the determined Huskies, who seemed to want the win more.
The significance of this upset cannot be overstated. Northeastern's victory over Elon is a major boost to their resume, and it will undoubtedly give them a much-needed confidence boost as they move forward. On the other hand, the loss is a tough pill for Elon to swallow, as they were expected to win this game comfortably. The Phoenix must regroup and refocus if they hope to achieve their goals this season.
It's worth noting that this game was not expected to be particularly close, but Northeastern had other plans. Without a pre-game prediction to speak of, the Huskies were able to fly under the radar and catch Elon off guard. The result is a reflection of the unpredictability of college basketball, where anything can happen on any given night.
In terms of tournament implications, this result is a Quadrant 4 win for Northeastern, which may not carry much weight in the eyes of the selection committee. However, it is still a win, and the Huskies will take it. For Elon, the loss is also a Quadrant 4 defeat, which could potentially hurt their chances of making a deep run in the postseason. As it stands, the Phoenix must rebound from this loss and string together some wins if they hope to bolster their resume and make a case for themselves as a tournament contender. The Huskies, on the other hand, want to build on this momentum and see where it takes them.