William & Mary showcased its offensive prowess, defeating North Carolina A&T 97-89 at Kaplan Arena. The Tribe's balanced attack, led by Tunde Vahlberg Fasasi's impressive all-around performance, proved too much for the Aggies to handle. Fasasi finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, highlighting his versatility on the court.
The game got off to a tight start, with William & Mary holding a slim 42-40 lead at halftime. However, the Tribe's offense caught fire in the second half, scoring 55 points to pull away from the Aggies. Reese Miller and Kilian Brockhoff also made significant contributions for William & Mary, scoring 19 and 15 points, respectively. Brockhoff added 6 rebounds to his tally, helping the Tribe control the paint.
On the other side, Lewis Walker was nearly unstoppable for North Carolina A&T, pouring in 33 points to lead all scorers. Trent Middleton Jr. chipped in with 20 points, while Zamoku Weluche-Ume recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Despite these impressive individual performances, the Aggies were unable to keep pace with William & Mary's high-powered offense.
The Tribe's victory was not entirely unexpected, given their significant advantage in net ranking. William & Mary, currently ranked 102nd, took care of business against a North Carolina A&T team ranked 259th. This win falls into Quadrant 4 for the Tribe, which may not greatly impact their tournament resume but still represents a valuable victory.
For North Carolina A&T, this loss falls into Quadrant 2, which could have implications for their own postseason hopes. Although the Aggies are not currently in the tournament picture, they must capitalize on future opportunities to bolster their resume. Lewis Walker's outstanding performance is a positive takeaway, but the team's defense must improve to compete with stronger opponents.
In the end, William & Mary's depth and balanced attack proved too much for North Carolina A&T to overcome. The Tribe's ability to score from multiple positions and control the tempo of the game ultimately led to their 97-89 victory. As the season progresses, William & Mary want to build on this win and strengthen their tournament resume, while North Carolina A&T will aim to learn from their mistakes and come out stronger in their next outing. The outcome of this game reinforces William & Mary's position as a solid mid-major program, and they want to continue their winning ways in upcoming contests.