Weber State pulled off a stunning upset on the road, taking down Northern Colorado 76-71 at the Bank of Colorado Arena. The Wildcats, ranked 194 in the net rankings, handed the 180th-ranked Bears a devastating loss, one that will surely have real consequences for their tournament chances. This was no ordinary win for Weber State, as they overcame a 3-point halftime deficit to outscore Northern Colorado 42-34 in the second half.
Brock Wisne led the charge for Northern Colorado, scoring 17 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, while Quinn Denker added 17 points and 7 assists. Ring Nyeri also chipped in with 16 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of the Wildcats. Edwin Suarez Jr. was the star of the show for Weber State, scoring 18 points and hauling in 8 rebounds to pace his team. Tijan Saine Jr. added 17 points, and Nigel Burris contributed 11 points to help seal the win.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Northern Colorado taking a 37-34 lead into the break. However, Weber State came out firing in the second half, using a 10-2 run to take a 5-point lead midway through the period. The Bears fought back, but the Wildcats' defense held strong, limiting Northern Colorado to just 34 points in the second half.
The loss is a significant blow to Northern Colorado's tournament resume, as this was a Quadrant 4 game for the Bears. Dropping a game to a team ranked lower in the net rankings will surely hurt their chances of making a deep postseason run. On the other hand, this win is a huge boost for Weber State, as it counts as a Quadrant 3 victory for the Wildcats. The upset win will help to strengthen their tournament profile, and they want to build on this momentum as they continue through their schedule.
Without a pre-game prediction to reference, it's clear that Weber State's win was a surprise to many. The Wildcats' ability to go on the road and take down a team ranked higher in the net rankings is a reflection of their resilience and determination. As the season wears on, this win will likely be looked back upon as a turning point for Weber State, and it will be interesting to see how they build on this momentum.
The implications of this result are clear: Northern Colorado's tournament chances took a hit, while Weber State's chances got a significant boost. The Wildcats' win will help to strengthen their resume, and they want to continue to make a push for a postseason berth. For Northern Colorado, the loss is a wake-up call, and they must regroup and refocus if they hope to make a deep run in the tournament.