The Texas Southern Tigers pulled off a stunning 83-64 upset over the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, defying their 318 NET ranking and handing Arkansas-Pine Bluff a devastating loss that could impact their tournament hopes. With a 19-point margin, this was not just an upset, but a dominating performance by Texas Southern, who had been averaging 73 points per game over their last 5 contests, while allowing 74.6 points per game. The Golden Lions, on the other hand, had been averaging 73.2 points per game over their last 5, while allowing 73 points per game, and were expected to come out on top, especially considering their recent 3-2 stretch, which included wins over Jackson State and Alcorn State. However, it was Texas Southern who came out strong, taking a 40-36 lead into halftime, and never looking back.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage. However, in the second half, Texas Southern's offense caught fire, scoring 43 points and holding Arkansas-Pine Bluff to just 28. This was a stark contrast to the Golden Lions' recent trend of outscoring their opponents by 0.2 points per game over their last 5 contests. Jaylen Wysinger was the catalyst for the Tigers' offense, scoring 25 points and dishing out 7 assists, including several big shots in the second half that helped to put the game out of reach. Meanwhile, Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Jaquan Scott, who had been averaging 15 points per game over his last 5 contests, was held to just 15 points and 9 rebounds, and was unable to get anything going in the second half.
As the game wore on, it became clear that Texas Southern's supporting cast was also making significant contributions. Troy Hupstead chipped in with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Zytarious Mortle added 15 points, including several key baskets in the second half. On the other hand, Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Alex Mirhosseini, who had been averaging 15 points per game over his last 5 contests, was held to just 15 points and 5 assists, and was unable to get anything going in the second half. Quion Williams, who had been averaging 13 points per game over his last 5 contests, was also held to just 13 points and 7 rebounds, and was unable to make a significant impact on the game. As the final buzzer sounded, it was clear that Texas Southern had made a statement, and that their 10-15 record did not accurately reflect their abilities.
The question on everyone's mind now is, how did CHD Scout get it so wrong? The predicted score was 80-76 in favor of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, with a predicted margin of 4.6 points. However, as the game played out, it became clear that Texas Southern was the better team, and that their recent trend of being outscored by 1.6 points per game over their last 5 contests was not indicative of their true abilities. The Tigers' offense was clicking on all cylinders, and their defense was able to shut down the Golden Lions' attack, holding them to just 28 points in the second half.
CHD Scout Report Card
INCORRECTPredicted
Final
The disparity between the predicted and actual scores can be attributed to several factors, including Texas Southern's ability to adapt to Arkansas-Pine Bluff's defense, and their own defensive efforts, which were able to shut down the Golden Lions' attack. The Tigers' offense was able to exploit the Golden Lions' weaknesses, and their defense was able to capitalize on the Golden Lions' mistakes. As a result, Texas Southern was able to pull off the upset, and hand Arkansas-Pine Bluff a devastating loss. The Golden Lions had been trending upwards, with a 3-2 record over their last 5 games, but this loss will undoubtedly set them back.
The implications of this loss are significant, particularly for Arkansas-Pine Bluff's tournament hopes. With a NET ranking of 304, the Golden Lions were already on the bubble, and this loss will not help their cause. On the other hand, Texas Southern's win will give them a much-needed boost, and could potentially put them back in the conversation for a tournament bid. The Tigers' recent trend of being outscored by 1.6 points per game over their last 5 contests must be reversed if they hope to make a push for the postseason. However, with this win, they have taken a significant step in the right direction.
The impact of this game on the tournament picture cannot be overstated. With this win, Texas Southern has improved their NET ranking, and has put themselves back in the conversation for a tournament bid. On the other hand, Arkansas-Pine Bluff's loss will likely drop them down the rankings, and will make it even more difficult for them to secure a spot in the postseason. The Golden Lions' recent trend of outscoring their opponents by 0.2 points per game over their last 5 contests must be reversed if they hope to make a push for the postseason. However, with this loss, they have taken a significant step backwards. As the season wears on, it will be interesting to see how these two teams respond to this game, and how it will impact their respective tournament hopes. With 19 points separating the two teams, it is clear that Texas Southern is a force to be reckoned with, and that they will not be overlooked in the tournament conversation.