Jacksonville's offense was firing on all cylinders as they dismantled North Alabama 90-68 at Flowers Hall. The Dolphins' 22-point margin of victory was a reflection of their dominant performance, which saw them score 48 points in the first half alone. Hayden Wood led the charge for Jacksonville, scoring 25 points to pace the team. His impressive outing was complemented by Charles Caporaso's 13 points and 8 rebounds, as well as Allen Udemadu's 12 points.
North Alabama, on the other hand, struggled to keep up with Jacksonville's high-powered offense. Despite Corneilous Williams' 17 points and 6 rebounds, the Lions were unable to mount a significant challenge. Kevin de Kovachich also chipped in with 17 points for North Alabama, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Dolphins' onslaught. Dallas Howell added 11 points for the Lions, but their offense was ultimately outgunned by Jacksonville's balanced attack.
The game got off to a lopsided start, with Jacksonville racing out to a 17-point lead at halftime. North Alabama tried to mount a comeback in the second half, but the Dolphins' lead never dipped below 15 points. As the final buzzer sounded, Jacksonville had secured a convincing 90-68 victory.
The win is a significant boost to Jacksonville's resume, as it counts as a Quad 4 victory. With a current net ranking of 292, the Dolphins are still looking to improve their tournament chances. This win will certainly help, but they'll need to continue to rack up victories against quality opponents to make a serious push for the postseason.
For North Alabama, the loss is a setback, but not a surprising one given their 6-12 record and 338 net ranking. The Lions were always going to be underdogs against Jacksonville, and the 22-point margin of defeat is a reflection of the gulf in class between the two teams. This game was classified as a Quad 4 matchup for North Alabama, and the loss won't do much to harm their already slim tournament hopes.
In the end, Jacksonville's dominant performance was the story of the game. With Hayden Wood leading the way, the Dolphins were able to overpower North Alabama and secure a convincing victory. As the season wears on, Jacksonville want to build on this win and make a push for the postseason. With their current net ranking and a few more wins like this one, they might just find themselves in the conversation for a tournament bid.