The Sacred Heart Pioneers, ranked 296 in the NET rankings, pulled off a stunning 7-point upset over the Saint Peter's Peacocks, ranked 226, with a final score of 78-71. Anquan Hill led the charge for Sacred Heart, scoring 20 points, while Jahki Gupton paced Saint Peter's with 15 points. This upset victory marks a significant win for Sacred Heart, who improved their record to 11-16, and dealt a blow to Saint Peter's tournament hopes, dropping their record to 14-9. The Pioneers outscored the Peacocks 40-33 in the first half, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Anquan Hill Scores 20 Points, His Third 20-Point Game of the Season
The Sacred Heart Pioneers took control of the game early, with a 12-2 run in the first 5 minutes, and never looked back. At halftime, Sacred Heart held a 40-33 lead, with Anquan Hill scoring 12 points in the first half. The Saint Peter's Peacocks attempted to mount a comeback in the second half, but the Pioneers' defense held strong, limiting the Peacocks to 38 points in the second half. Sacred Heart's Jaden Slaughter added 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Nyle Ralph-Beyer chipped in with 19 points. The Peacocks' Jahki Gupton scored 15 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit, as Sacred Heart secured the 78-71 victory. The Pioneers' 40 points in the first half were the most they've scored in a half this season, and their 78 total points were the most they've scored in a game since January.
Anquan Hill and Jahki Gupton were the top performers for their respective teams, with Hill scoring 20 points and Gupton scoring 15 points. For Sacred Heart, Nyle Ralph-Beyer added 19 points, and Jaden Slaughter contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds. For Saint Peter's, Brent Bland scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, while TJ Robinson chipped in with 11 points. The Pioneers' balanced attack, with three players scoring in double figures, was too much for the Peacocks to handle. Hill's 20 points marked his third 20-point game of the season, and Ralph-Beyer's 19 points were a season high.
CHD Scout Report Card
INCORRECTPredicted
Final
The Sacred Heart Pioneers outshot the Saint Peter's Peacocks 45.8% to 41.9% from the field, and outrebounded them 34-29. The Pioneers also committed 12 turnovers, compared to the Peacocks' 15. Sacred Heart's 40 points in the first half were the most they've scored in a half this season, and their 78 total points were the most they've scored in a game since January. The Peacocks' 33 points in the first half were their lowest output of the season, and their 71 total points were 5 points below their season average. The Pioneers' 8 steals were a season high, and their 5 blocks were their most since December.
The CHD Scout prediction model incorrectly predicted a Saint Peter's victory, with a predicted score of 70-76 and a 5.3-point margin. However, the actual result was a 7-point victory for Sacred Heart, with a final score of 78-71. This marks a significant upset, as the Pioneers were ranked 70 spots lower than the Peacocks in the NET rankings. The model failed to account for Sacred Heart's strong first-half performance, which set the tone for the rest of the game. The Pioneers' 40 points in the first half were 10 points above their season average, and their 78 total points were 7 points above their season average.
This upset victory marks a significant win for the Sacred Heart Pioneers, who improved their record to 11-16. However, as a Quadrant 4 win, it may not have a significant impact on their tournament resume. For the Saint Peter's Peacocks, this loss drops their record to 14-9, and marks a Quadrant 4 loss. The Peacocks' NET ranking is likely to drop, and this loss may hurt their chances of securing a tournament bid. The Pioneers' win improves their Quadrant 4 record to 2-10, while the Peacocks' loss drops their Quadrant 4 record to 1-5. The Peacocks' NET ranking is likely to drop to around 240, while the Pioneers' NET ranking is likely to rise to around 280.
The Sacred Heart Pioneers want to build on this momentum as they face the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights on February 17. The Saint Peter's Peacocks will attempt to bounce back from this loss as they face the Rider Broncs on February 18. The Pioneers want to improve their 2-10 Quadrant 4 record, while the Peacocks want to improve their 1-5 Quadrant 4 record. The Pioneers' next game will be at home, where they have a 7-6 record, while the Peacocks' next game will be on the road, where they have a 6-5 record.