Lamar Falls to New Orleans

In a stunning upset, the University of New Orleans Privateers, ranked 216 in the NET rankings, took down the Lamar University Cardinals, ranked 211, by a margin of 6 points, 77-71. The Privateers, considered the underdog going into the matchup, managed to pull off the victory despite being ranked lower than their opponents. The first half saw New Orleans take a narrow 32-29 lead, which they maintained in the second half, outscoring Lamar 45-42. This unexpected result has significant implications for the seed line, as it disrupts the expected trajectory of both teams.

The margin of victory and team stats reveal that New Orleans was able to capitalize on their opportunities, ultimately outscoring Lamar by 6 points. The Privateers' ability to maintain their lead throughout the game, despite Lamar's efforts to close the gap, is a testament to their resilience and determination. As the season progresses, this upset will likely have a ripple effect on the standings, and it will be interesting to see how both teams respond to this outcome. With New Orleans pulling off the upset, they will look to build on this momentum, while Lamar will need to regroup and reassess their strategy.

MJ Thomas led the charge for New Orleans, posting a team-high 19 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. His efficient shooting was a key factor, as he converted 6 of 8 field goal attempts and 7 of 10 free throws. Thomas's performance was well-rounded, and his ability to score and rebound made him a difficult matchup for Lamar. Coleton Benson also made significant contributions, scoring 14 points despite struggling with his field goal percentage, going 3-10 overall and 3-8 from beyond the arc.

TJ Cope provided a spark for New Orleans, tallying 11 points and 7 rebounds while also dishing out 2 assists. His shooting was accurate, as he made 4 of 6 field goal attempts, although he missed his only 3-point try. Cope's overall stat line was complemented by Thomas's and Benson's, forming a formidable trio that helped propel New Orleans to a 77-71 victory. The collective effort of these players was crucial in securing the win, with each bringing their own unique strengths to the table.

Lamar's top performers were unable to propel their team to victory, despite putting up respectable numbers. Andrew Holifield and Errol White each contributed 14 points, with Holifield also grabbing 9 rebounds and White securing 8. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome the deficit. Holifield's shooting woes, particularly from beyond the arc, where he went 2-11, hindered his overall impact. White's 6-11 field goal shooting was a bright spot, but ultimately, his team's shortcomings elsewhere on the court limited his ability to make a decisive difference.

Eian Lowe chipped in with 13 points and a team-high 4 assists, but his lack of rebounding presence, with only 1 board, was notable. Lowe's 3-7 mark from three-point range was a highlight, but it was not sufficient to offset the team's overall struggles. Collectively, the performances of Lamar's top players were good, but not quite good enough to overcome the opposition's strong showing. The team's inability to capitalize on their individual contributions ultimately led to their downfall.

Notable deviations from season averages were observed in the performances of Jakevion Buckley, Jayden Gambrell, and Rob Lee Jr. Buckley's output was subdued, with his 9 points and 6 rebounds marking a 5.2-point and 1.1-rebound deviation from his season averages, respectively, while his assist total exceeded his average by 3.8. Conversely, Gambrell's 12-point outing represented a significant 8.4-point increase over his season average, albeit with a modest rebounding contribution. Meanwhile, Lee Jr.'s 8-point performance fell 8.1 points short of his season average, with his other statistics closely mirroring his typical output, underscoring an off-night for the typically prolific scorer.

The pre-game prediction, which favored Lamar by four points, ultimately proved incorrect as New Orleans emerged victorious by six points. This outcome suggests that the prediction model underestimated the Privateers' ability to perform on the road against the Cardinals. The actual result was a reversal of the expected outcome, with New Orleans outperforming Lamar in key areas to secure the win. This discrepancy highlights the complexities of predicting college basketball games, where various factors can influence the final result.

A closer examination of the team statistics reveals that New Orleans' superior shooting efficiency and rebounding prowess were crucial factors in their victory. The Privateers' effective field goal percentage of 50.9% significantly outpaced Lamar's 43.2%, indicating a notable difference in the teams' ability to convert scoring opportunities. Furthermore, both teams' impressive offensive rebounding rates, with New Orleans edging Lamar 45.2% to 42.2%, suggest that second-chance points played a significant role in the game's outcome. These advantages allowed New Orleans to control the tempo and ultimately secure the win, despite Lamar's season averages suggesting they might have had an edge in these areas.

The outcome of this contest has significant implications for both teams' NCAA Tournament prospects, albeit in differing ways. For New Orleans, the win, albeit a Quad 3 affair, provides a modest boost to their resume, which still requires substantial augmentation to be considered for an at-large berth, given their 1-4 mark against Quad 1 opponents and 0-3 record against Quad 2 foes. Meanwhile, Lamar's loss, a Quad 4 defeat, further diminishes their already slim tournament hopes, as their 0-4 record against Quad 1 opponents and 0-2 mark against Quad 2 teams renders a postseason invitation highly unlikely, with their current NET ranking of 211 suggesting a seeding, if they were to secure a conference tournament automatic bid, that would likely fall in the 16-seed range, facing a top seed in the first round. This result reinforces the notion that New Orleans's only viable path to the NCAA Tournament is by winning their conference tournament, a feat that now seems marginally more attainable, while Lamar's postseason aspirations are all but extinguished.