Eastern Washington Eagles Soar to 84-66 Upset Victory Over Weber State Wildcats

The Eastern Washington Eagles pulled off a stunning 18-point upset over the Weber State Wildcats, winning 84-66 behind a dominant performance from Alton Hamilton IV, who scored 24 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. This victory was a significant upset, considering Weber State's NET ranking of 198, 33 spots ahead of Eastern Washington's 231. The Eagles' 51-point first half set the tone for the game, with Eastern Washington shooting 51.9% from the field in the opening period.

The Eastern Washington Eagles took control of the game from the outset, racing to a 51-24 halftime lead, outscoring Weber State by 27 points in the first half. The Weber State Wildcats struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 32.1% from the field in the first half. Despite a stronger second-half performance, in which they scored 42 points, Weber State was unable to overcome the significant deficit. Eastern Washington's Kiree Huie added 20 points and 5 rebounds, while Isaiah Moses chipped in with 11 points. The Eagles' 84-point total marked their highest scoring output in their last 5 games, and their 18-point margin of victory was their largest of the season.

Alton Hamilton IV and Tijan Saine Jr. were the top performers for their respective teams, with Hamilton IV scoring 24 points and Saine Jr. adding 20 points. Hamilton IV's 24 points marked his highest scoring total in the last 10 games, while Saine Jr.'s 20 points were his third-highest total of the season. Viljami Vartiainen and Duce Paschal also contributed to Weber State's efforts, scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively. Kiree Huie's 20 points for Eastern Washington marked his fifth 20-point game of the season, and his 5 rebounds were his highest total in the last 5 games.

The Eastern Washington Eagles outshot the Weber State Wildcats 49.2% to 40.7% from the field, and outrebounded them 35-29. Eastern Washington also committed just 12 turnovers, while forcing 15 turnovers from Weber State. The Eagles' 33-point second half was their lowest scoring output in a half since January 28, but it was still enough to secure the 18-point victory. Weber State's 42-point second half marked their highest scoring output in a half since February 7, but it was too little, too late.

The CHD Scout prediction model was incorrect in its prediction, as it forecasted a narrow Weber State victory by 0.2 points, with a predicted score of 79-79. Instead, Eastern Washington emerged victorious by 18 points, 84-66. This result highlights the unpredictability of college basketball and the importance of considering multiple factors when making predictions. The model's incorrect prediction was likely due to its underestimation of Eastern Washington's offense, which scored 84 points, 13 more than their season average.

This upset victory was a significant Quad 4 win for the Eastern Washington Eagles, who improved their record to 9-17. The loss was a Quad 3 defeat for the Weber State Wildcats, who fell to 13-14. The result will likely have implications for both teams' NET rankings, with Eastern Washington potentially rising and Weber State potentially falling. The Eagles' 18-point margin of victory marked their largest of the season, and their 84-point total was their highest scoring output in their last 10 games.

The Eastern Washington Eagles want to build on this momentum in their next game, while the Weber State Wildcats will aim to bounce back from this disappointing loss. Eastern Washington's next game is scheduled for February 18 against the Idaho Vandals, while Weber State's next game is set for February 19 against the Idaho State Bengals.