The North Carolina A&T State Aggies pulled off a stunning 1-point upset over the Hampton Pirates, winning 71-70 in a nail-biting contest at The Forum. This victory marked a significant upset, as the Aggies, ranked 267 in the NET rankings, took down the Pirates, who are ranked 251. Lewis Walker led the charge for the Aggies, scoring 18 points, while Xzavier Long paced the Pirates with 17 points and 6 rebounds. The Aggies improved to 10-14 on the season, while the Pirates fell to 12-14.
Lewis Walker's 18 Points Marked His 5th Straight Game in Double Figures
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Pirates taking a 30-26 lead into halftime. However, the Aggies came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Pirates 45-40 to take the lead. The Pirates fought hard to stay in the game, but ultimately fell short by a single point. The Aggies' Trent Middleton Jr. scored 15 points, while Will Felton added 12 points to help secure the win. The Pirates' Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt scored 17 points, and Elijah Kennedy chipped in with 13 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Aggies' balanced attack. At one point, the Aggies went on a 10-2 run, which was a crucial stretch in the game, as it gave them a 5-point lead with just over 5 minutes remaining.
Lewis Walker was the star of the show for the North Carolina A&T State Aggies, scoring 18 points on 7-12 shooting from the field. Xzavier Long was the top performer for the Hampton Pirates, scoring 17 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. Trent Middleton Jr. added 15 points for the Aggies, while Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt scored 17 points for the Pirates. Will Felton and Elijah Kennedy also had strong games, scoring 12 and 13 points, respectively. The Aggies' balanced attack, which featured three players scoring in double figures, was a key factor in their victory.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The North Carolina A&T State Aggies shot 45.5% from the field, including 35.7% from three-point range, to secure the win. The Hampton Pirates shot 42.9% from the field, but were just 25% from beyond the arc. The Aggies outrebounded the Pirates 32-29, and committed 12 turnovers, compared to 15 for the Pirates. The Aggies' 45 points in the second half were a season high, and their 71 total points were their highest output in the past 5 games. The Pirates, on the other hand, were held to their lowest point total in the past 3 games.
The CHD Scout predicted a Hampton win by 1.2 points, but the North Carolina A&T State Aggies had other plans. The actual margin of victory was 1 point, in favor of the Aggies. This marks a significant upset, as the Aggies were predicted to lose a close game. The CHD Scout model was wrong in this instance, as it failed to account for the Aggies' strong second-half performance. The model predicted a score of 71-73 in favor of the Pirates, but the Aggies' 45-point second half propelled them to a 71-70 victory.
This win was a Quadrant 4 victory for the North Carolina A&T State Aggies, as they took down a team ranked 251 in the NET rankings. The loss was also a Quadrant 4 loss for the Hampton Pirates, as they fell to a team ranked 267. The Aggies' NET ranking is likely to improve with this win, while the Pirates' ranking may take a hit. The Aggies' record now stands at 10-14, while the Pirates' record falls to 12-14. This game had real consequences for both teams' tournament resumes, as a win in this type of game can be a major boost for a team's postseason chances.
The North Carolina A&T State Aggies want to build on this momentum as they face their next opponent, while the Hampton Pirates will try to bounce back from this tough loss. The Aggies' next game is scheduled for February 17th, while the Pirates will take the court again on February 20th. Both teams want to improve their records and strengthen their tournament resumes in the coming weeks.