The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles pulled off a stunning 69-65 upset over the Troy Trojans, with Tylik Weeks leading the charge with 32 points. This victory marked a significant upset, as the Golden Eagles, ranked 237 in the NET rankings, took down the 126th-ranked Trojans. The 4-point margin of victory was a reflection of the closely contested nature of the game, with both teams scoring 26 points in the first period. The Golden Eagles' record improved to 14-14, while the Trojans fell to 17-10.
Tylik Weeks Scores 32 Points to Lead Southern Mississippi to Upset Victory
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams struggling to gain a significant advantage. At halftime, the score was tied at 26-26, with neither team able to pull ahead. However, in the second period, the Golden Eagles outscored the Trojans 43-39, thanks in large part to Weeks' impressive performance. The Trojans' Thomas Dowd put up a valiant effort, scoring 13 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, but it was not enough to overcome the Golden Eagles' balanced attack. With 11 points and 7 rebounds, Isaac Taveras also made significant contributions to the Golden Eagles' victory. The Trojans' Victor Valdes added 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, but his team ultimately came up short.
Tylik Weeks was the standout performer for the Golden Eagles, scoring 32 points to lead all players. Djahi Binet also had a strong game, scoring 14 points and grabbing 18 rebounds. For the Trojans, Thomas Dowd led the way with 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Victor Valdes added 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Austin Cross chipped in with 9 points and 6 rebounds for the Trojans. The Golden Eagles' top performers were able to outshine their counterparts, with Weeks' 32 points proving to be the difference-maker in the 4-point victory.
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The Golden Eagles outrebounded the Trojans 41-36, with Djahi Binet's 18 rebounds leading the way. The Trojans committed 12 turnovers, compared to the Golden Eagles' 10, which ultimately proved costly. The Golden Eagles shot 43.1% from the field, while the Trojans shot 40.7%. With 43 points in the second period, the Golden Eagles were able to outscore the Trojans and secure the upset victory. The Trojans' 39 points in the second period were not enough to overcome the Golden Eagles' strong finish.
The CHD Scout prediction model was incorrect in predicting a Troy victory by 7.8 points. Instead, the Golden Eagles pulled off the 4-point upset, defying the model's expectations. The predicted score of 72-80 was also far off from the actual 69-65 final. This result highlights the unpredictability of college basketball and the importance of considering multiple factors when making predictions. With a predicted margin of 7.8 points, the model underestimated the Golden Eagles' ability to compete with the Trojans.
This victory was a significant Quadrant 3 win for the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, improving their resume and potentially boosting their NET ranking. The loss was also a Quadrant 3 defeat for the Troy Trojans, which could negatively impact their tournament chances. The Golden Eagles' current NET ranking of 237 could see an improvement, while the Trojans' ranking of 126 may take a hit. With 14 wins and 14 losses, the Golden Eagles are now .500 on the season, while the Trojans have 17 wins and 10 losses. This result could have real consequences for both teams' tournament hopes, with the Golden Eagles potentially moving up and the Trojans potentially moving down.
The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles want to build on this momentum in their next game, while the Troy Trojans will aim to bounce back from this upset loss. The Golden Eagles' next game is scheduled for February 17th, while the Trojans will take on their next opponent on February 18th. With a renewed sense of confidence, the Golden Eagles want to carry this momentum forward, while the Trojans will seek to regroup and refocus.