In a shocking turn of events, Southern Utah pulled off a monumental upset at Moody Coliseum, taking down Abilene Christian 79-76. The Thunderbirds, ranked 296 in the net rankings, were predicted to fall by 8 points according to CHD Scout, but they had other plans. Led by Elijah Duval's impressive 29-point performance, Southern Utah proved that they can hang with tougher opponents, even on the road.
The first half belonged to Abilene Christian, as they took a 39-33 lead into the break. Rich Smith was instrumental in the Wildcats' strong start, scoring 18 points and dishing out 5 assists. However, Southern Utah refused to back down, and their second-half surge ultimately decided the game. The Thunderbirds outscored Abilene Christian 46-37 in the final 20 minutes, with Duval and Jaiden Feroah combining for 25 points in the period.
Duval's performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he also grabbed 7 rebounds to go along with his 29 points. Feroah chipped in with 16 points and 7 rebounds, while Isaiah Cottrell added 14 points to the Thunderbirds' cause. On the other side, Smith's 18 points and 5 assists were not enough to propel Abilene Christian to victory. Cbo Newton and Bradyn Hubbard contributed 17 and 12 points, respectively, but the Wildcats' offense stalled at critical moments, allowing Southern Utah to seize control.
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Final
The loss is a significant blow to Abilene Christian's tournament hopes, as it drops them to 10-11 on the season. This game was classified as a Quadrant 4 matchup for both teams, and the Wildcats' inability to come out on top will likely hurt their resume. Southern Utah, on the other hand, improves to 8-15 and gains a much-needed boost to their own tournament chances. While they still have a long way to go, the Thunderbirds have shown that they can compete with tougher opponents, and this win will undoubtedly give them confidence moving forward.
CHD Scout's prediction of an 8-point Abilene Christian victory now seems laughable, as Southern Utah's upset win defied all expectations. The Thunderbirds' victory serves as a reminder that college basketball is full of surprises, and that any team can beat any other on a given night. As the season enters its final stretch, Southern Utah's win will be remembered as one of the most significant upsets of the year, and it will be interesting to see how both teams respond in the coming weeks. For now, the Thunderbirds can bask in the glory of their monumental upset, and Abilene Christian must regroup and refocus in order to salvage their tournament hopes.