In a game that came down to the wire, Northern Colorado emerged victorious over Northern Arizona, 78-77. The Bears' (NCU) narrow margin of victory belies the intensity of the contest, as they held off a late surge from the Lumberjacks (NAU). The first half saw the two teams separated by just two points, 43-41, with Northern Colorado edging ahead. The second half was a different story, with Northern Arizona taking the lead at 35-36, but ultimately falling short.
Northern Colorado's (NET #144) win over Northern Arizona (NET #301) marked a significant upset, one that was driven in large part by a standout performance from a single player.
Brock Wisne led the charge for Northern Colorado, pouring in a game-high 38 points on 15-of-21 shooting from the field, including a 1-of-3 mark from beyond the arc. He also contributed in other areas, grabbing five rebounds and blocking two shots. Wisne's efficiency was a key factor in the Bears' victory, as he shot 7-of-9 from the free throw line. His all-around performance was a testament to his well-rounded skillset.
Quinn Denker and Ibu Yamazaki also made significant contributions to the Bears' win. Denker tallied 13 points, secured eight rebounds, and dished out four assists, while also blocking two shots. Yamazaki chipped in with 10 points, including 2-of-5 from three-point range, and grabbed four rebounds. While not as prolific as Wisne, Denker and Yamazaki provided a solid supporting cast, helping Northern Colorado secure the narrow 78-77 victory.
Chris Komin's 34 points were a bright spot for Northern Arizona, but ultimately proved insufficient to overcome the Northern Colorado defense. His shooting percentages were strong, particularly from the free throw line, but he was unable to will his team to victory. While Komin's 19 field goal attempts were a significant contributor to his scoring total, it also indicates that the team relied heavily on him to create offense.
Ryan Abelman and Traivar Jackson contributed double-digit scoring efforts, but their overall stat lines were somewhat one-dimensional. Abelman's four field goals and six rebounds were a solid effort, but he failed to register an assist, limiting his impact on the game. Jackson's 10 points were buoyed by his four free throw makes, but his 6-point disparity between field goal attempts and makes is a red flag. His 2 blocks were a positive development, but not enough to alter the outcome of the game.
The supporting cast for both teams largely played to their established season averages, with no notable deviations.
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Final
The pre-game prediction of a 13.4-point Northern Colorado victory proved to be remarkably accurate, as the Bears ultimately secured a narrow 1-point win. While the margin of victory was significantly less than anticipated, the underlying trends that led to this outcome were more pronounced than initially expected.
The decisive factors in this contest were Northern Colorado's resurgence on offense, particularly in the efficiency department, where they significantly outperformed their season average with a 57.4% effective field goal percentage. Conversely, Northern Arizona's normally reliable 3-point shooting, a staple of their offense, struggled to find its mark, with a season-low 35.0% 3-point shooting performance. Furthermore, the Lumberjacks were unable to capitalize on the glass, with a below-average 24.2% rebounding rate, allowing Northern Colorado to maintain possession and ultimately seal the win.
The outcome of this game has significant implications for both teams' NCAA Tournament resumes. For Northern Colorado, a Quad 4 win is a marginal addition to their resume, but it's a much-needed one given their 0-1 record against Quad 1 opponents and a 1-1 mark against Quad 2 teams. They now sit at 18-10 with a NET ranking of #144, but this win is unlikely to move the needle significantly in terms of seeding. Northern Colorado's best-case scenario remains a First Four bid, and this result does little to alter that outlook. With this win, they'll be fighting for a #16 seed, but the margin for error is still thin. The Bears' margin of victory was a Band-Aid on a bullet wound - it's a win, but it doesn't change the underlying narrative.