Le Moyne dominated Chicago State 72-57 at the Jones Convocation Center, capitalizing on a strong second-half performance to secure the 15-point victory. The Dolphins' win was fueled by a balanced offense, with Tennessee Rainwater leading the charge with 17 points. Rainwater's effort was complemented by Trent Mosquera's 16 points and 9 rebounds, as well as Shilo Jackson's 13 points.
Chicago State, despite the loss, saw a notable performance from Marcus Tankersley, who scored 20 points to lead the Cougars. Tankersley's output was supplemented by Doyel Cockrill III's 14 points and Braelon Bush's impressive all-around game, which included 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 10 assists. However, the Cougars' efforts were ultimately overshadowed by Le Moyne's second-half surge.
At halftime, the score was relatively close, with Le Moyne holding a slim 30-34 advantage. However, the Dolphins came out strong in the second half, outscoring Chicago State 42-23 to seal the win. This decisive half was marked by Le Moyne's ability to capitalize on Chicago State's mistakes, converting turnovers into points and pulling away from the Cougars.
The game's outcome was not entirely unexpected, given the teams' respective records and net rankings. Le Moyne, now 11-10, sits at 255 in the net rankings, while Chicago State, 2-19, is ranked 354. The win for Le Moyne serves as a reflection of their ability to perform against teams below them in the rankings.
Without a pre-game prediction to reference, the focus remains on the game's implications for both teams' resumes. For Le Moyne, this win, although against a lower-ranked opponent, contributes to their overall record and could have a positive impact on their tournament chances. On the other hand, Chicago State's loss, while expected, still counts as a Quadrant 4 game, which may not significantly hinder their already slim tournament aspirations but does little to enhance them.
The significance of this game lies in its contribution to the teams' resumes. For Le Moyne, it's another win that adds depth to their portfolio, potentially making them a more attractive candidate for postseason play. For Chicago State, it's a loss that, while not surprising, underscores the challenges they face in competing against more highly ranked opponents. As the season progresses, both teams want to build on this performance, with Le Moyne aiming to leverage this win into further success and Chicago State seeking to learn from their mistakes and improve their competitiveness. This result reinforces Le Moyne's position as a mid-tier team with potential for growth, while Chicago State continues to face an uphill battle in their pursuit of a stronger season.