The Belmont Bruins secured a 91-86 victory over the Northern Iowa Panthers, with Tyler Lundblade leading the charge with 31 points, his highest scoring output of the season. This win brings Belmont's record to 23-4, with a NET ranking of 60, while Northern Iowa falls to 16-10 with a NET ranking of 87. The 5-point margin of victory was just shy of the predicted 6.4-point margin by the CHD Scout, demonstrating the model's accuracy in forecasting the outcome. Belmont's 45 points in the first period set the tone for the game, as they maintained a narrow lead throughout.
Tyler Lundblade's 31 Points Mark 5th 25-Point Game of the Season
The game was closely contested, with both teams putting up impressive numbers. At halftime, the score was tied at 45-45, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. In the second period, Belmont outscored Northern Iowa 46-41, with Lundblade scoring 16 of his 31 points in the final 20 minutes. The Northern Iowa Panthers had a strong performance from Leon Bond III, who scored 21 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of the Belmont Bruins. With 5 minutes remaining in the game, Belmont held a 10-point lead, but Northern Iowa went on a 12-4 run to narrow the deficit to 2 points with just over 1 minute left. However, Belmont's free-throw shooting, which included 8 made free throws in the final 2 minutes, sealed the win.
Tyler Lundblade was the standout performer for the Belmont Bruins, scoring 31 points on 11-17 shooting from the field. Sam Orme added 15 points, while Brigham Rogers contributed 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. For the Northern Iowa Panthers, Leon Bond III led the way with 21 points and 7 rebounds, followed by Trey Campbell's 19 points and Max Weisbrod's 18 points. The top performers from both teams combined for 113 points, accounting for over 60% of the total points scored in the game. Lundblade's 31 points marked the 5th time this season he has scored 25 or more points in a game.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The Belmont Bruins shot 52.9% from the field, including 40% from 3-point range, while the Northern Iowa Panthers shot 49.2% from the field and 35.7% from 3-point range. Belmont outrebounded Northern Iowa 35-32, with 10 of those rebounds coming on the offensive glass. The Bruins also committed 12 turnovers, compared to 15 for the Panthers, which resulted in a 20-15 advantage in points off turnovers for Belmont. The game saw a total of 177 points scored, with both teams combining for 53 made field goals.
The CHD Scout predicted a 74-68 win for the Belmont Bruins, with a predicted margin of 6.4 points. The actual margin of 5 points was very close to the predicted margin, demonstrating the model's accuracy in forecasting the outcome. The predicted score was slightly lower than the actual score, but the model correctly identified Belmont as the winner. This win brings Belmont's record to 23-4, solidifying their position as a top team in the country. The model's correct prediction is a reflection of its ability to analyze team performance and predict outcomes.
This win was a Quadrant 3 victory for the Belmont Bruins, while the loss was a Quadrant 1 loss for the Northern Iowa Panthers. The NET ranking implications of this game are significant, as Belmont's win helps to solidify their position at 60, while Northern Iowa's loss drops them to 87. The Quadrant 1 loss for Northern Iowa is their 5th of the season, which could impact their tournament seeding. For Belmont, this win brings their Quadrant 3 record to 5-2, which is a key component of their tournament resume. With a strong record and a solid NET ranking, Belmont is well-positioned for a high tournament seed.
The Belmont Bruins will face off against the Murray State Racers on February 19, while the Northern Iowa Panthers will take on the Bradley Braves on February 15. Both games matters in determining the tournament seeding for these teams, and a win could help to solidify their positions. With the tournament picture starting to take shape, these games will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.