Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Stun Sacramento State Hornets 79-74 Behind Diego Campisano's 18 Points

The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks pulled off a stunning 79-74 upset over the Sacramento State Hornets, with Diego Campisano leading the charge with 18 points and 11 rebounds. This victory marked a significant upset, as Sacramento State entered the game with a NET ranking of 253, while Northern Arizona sat at 305. The 5-point margin of victory was a reflection of Northern Arizona's resilience, as they outscored Sacramento State 41-49 in the second half to secure the win. Sacramento State's Jahni Summers put up a valiant effort, scoring 18 points and grabbing 5 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Lumberjacks' balanced attack.

The game got off to a slow start, with Northern Arizona taking a 38-25 lead into halftime. However, Sacramento State came out firing in the second half, scoring 49 points to Northern Arizona's 41. Despite being outscored in the second half, the Lumberjacks' first-half cushion was enough, as they held on for the 79-74 victory. Karl Poom added 17 points for Northern Arizona, while Chris Komin chipped in with 14 points. Sacramento State's Prophet Johnson and Shaqir O'Neal each scored 15 points, but the Hornets' inability to contain Northern Arizona's offense ultimately was their downfall. The Lumberjacks shot 45.5% from the field, including 7-20 from three-point range, to secure the upset win.

Diego Campisano was the star of the show for Northern Arizona, posting a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jahni Summers led the way for Sacramento State, scoring 18 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Karl Poom added 17 points for the Lumberjacks, while Prophet Johnson and Shaqir O'Neal each scored 15 points for the Hornets. Chris Komin chipped in with 14 points for Northern Arizona, helping to secure the upset victory. The top performers for both teams combined for 97 points, accounting for over 60% of the total scoring in the game.

The key to Northern Arizona's victory was their ability to outrebound Sacramento State, grabbing 37 boards to the Hornets' 32. The Lumberjacks also shot 45.5% from the field, including 7-20 from three-point range, to secure the win. Sacramento State, on the other hand, struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 6-23 from three-point range. The Hornets did manage to outscore Northern Arizona 49-41 in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Lumberjacks' first-half lead. The 79-74 final score marked the 10th win of the season for Northern Arizona, while Sacramento State fell to 9-16.

The CHD Scout prediction model correctly predicted a Northern Arizona victory, albeit by a much slimmer margin of 0.2 points. The actual margin of victory was 5 points, a reflection of the Lumberjacks' ability to pull away from the Hornets in the second half. The predicted score of 77-77 was close, but the actual score of 79-74 was a more accurate reflection of the game's outcome. The model's correct prediction marked a significant win for the CHD Scout, as it demonstrated the model's ability to accurately forecast upsets.

This upset victory marked a significant Quad 4 win for Northern Arizona, as they improved their record to 10-17. Sacramento State, on the other hand, fell to 9-16, with the loss marking a Quad 4 defeat. The NET ranking implications of this game are significant, as Northern Arizona's win could potentially boost their ranking. The loss for Sacramento State, meanwhile, could drop them further down the NET rankings. The tournament picture remains murky, but this upset victory could potentially give Northern Arizona a boost in their quest for a postseason berth.

Northern Arizona's next game is scheduled for February 17th, as they take on the Portland State Vikings. Sacramento State, meanwhile, want to bounce back on February 18th, as they face off against the Idaho State Bengals. Both teams want to build on their recent performances, with Northern Arizona riding high after their upset victory.