The Queens (NY) Royals established a decisive advantage in the second half, outscoring the Eastern Kentucky Colonels 51-29 to secure a 96-79 victory. At halftime, Eastern Kentucky held a narrow 50-45 lead, but Queens' dominance in the final 20 minutes proved too much for the Colonels to overcome. The 17-point margin of victory reflects the significant gap between the two teams, with Queens ultimately pulling away for a convincing win.
The disparity in performance between the two teams is also evident in their respective NET rankings, with Queens at #206 and Eastern Kentucky at #277. While the first half was closely contested, Queens' ability to outscore Eastern Kentucky by 22 points in the second half demonstrates their superiority in this matchup. The Royals' strong second-half performance allowed them to turn a narrow deficit into a comfortable victory, highlighting the differences in depth and talent between the two teams.
A 24-point, 6-assist performance from Yoav Berman set the tone for Queens (NY), as his ability to score and distribute the ball effectively proved crucial in the team's 96-79 victory. His 7-14 shooting from the field and 8-10 mark from the free throw line showcased Berman's scoring prowess, while his 4 rebounds and 1 block demonstrated his all-around contribution. The team's strong outing was also bolstered by Maban Jabriel, whose 15 points on 5-7 shooting from the field, including 3-3 from three-point range, provided a significant scoring boost.
Erupting for 12 points on a perfect 5-5 from the field, Jordan Watford's efficient scoring helped Queens (NY) maintain its offensive rhythm throughout the game. With Watford and Jabriel combining for 27 points, the team's balanced attack proved difficult for Eastern Kentucky to contain. His 2 assists and 3 rebounds also underscored Watford's role in facilitating the team's overall performance, which was spearheaded by Berman's impressive stat line, including his 6 assists and 24 points.
Finishing with 17 points and 8 rebounds, Montavious Myrick's performance was a notable aspect of Eastern Kentucky's effort, but it ultimately fell short. His 11-13 mark from the free throw line was particularly impressive, as it helped to keep his team within striking distance for much of the game. Despite the loss, the team's leading scorer, Myrick, demonstrated his ability to contribute on the glass, hauling in 8 rebounds to go along with his 17 points.
The supporting cast for Eastern Kentucky, including Jalen Cooper and Juan Cranford Jr., had mixed results, with Cooper's 14 points and 7 rebounds being a bright spot, while Cranford Jr.'s 11 points were somewhat offset by his 2-7 mark from beyond the arc. His 4-9 overall shooting from the field was respectable, but not enough to make a significant impact on the outcome. Cooper's 2 blocks were also a notable aspect of his performance, but the team's overall defensive effort was unable to slow down Queens (NY)'s potent offense.
Beyond the standout performances, the remainder of the players on both teams generally adhered to their established seasonal trends.
CHD Scout Report Card
INCORRECTPredicted
Final
The pre-game prediction, which favored Eastern Kentucky by a slim margin, proved to be inaccurate as Queens (NY) ultimately emerged victorious by a significant 17-point margin. This disparity between the predicted outcome and the actual result suggests that the model failed to account for certain factors that contributed to Queens' decisive win. The prediction's narrow margin of victory for Eastern Kentucky implied a closely contested game, but the final score told a different story.
A closer examination of the team statistics reveals that Queens' superior shooting efficiency was a crucial factor in their victory. The team's effective field goal percentage of 60.0% was notably higher than their season average, indicating a strong performance in terms of shot selection and conversion. Additionally, Queens' three-point shooting, which exceeded their season average by nearly 10 percentage points, likely played a significant role in stretching Eastern Kentucky's defense and creating scoring opportunities. These factors, combined with Eastern Kentucky's below-average performance on the offensive glass, ultimately tipped the scales in favor of Queens, allowing them to control the tempo of the game and secure a convincing win.
The outcome of this contest has significant implications for both teams' postseason aspirations, as they both rely on claiming the ASUN conference tournament auto-bid to advance to the NCAA Tournament. For Queens (NY), the win bolsters their position in the conference standings, potentially improving their seeding in the upcoming tournament, and provides a much-needed boost to their program's trajectory. In contrast, Eastern Kentucky's loss further complicates their path to the conference tournament title, and with a more challenging schedule potentially ahead, their chances of making a deep run appear increasingly daunting. As the season draws to a close, it is clear that these teams' fates are inextricably linked to their performance in the conference tournament, and the pressure to perform will only intensify in the coming weeks. The reality is that only one of these teams will ultimately capitalize on their sole opportunity for postseason glory, and it is Queens (NY) that has taken a crucial step forward in this high-stakes game of conference tournament survival.