The CIT will be down to just two teams by the end of Monday night as the second semifinal will be played. This tournament has been extremely competitive, and it will be Purdue Fort Wayne taking on Tarleton State on Monday night.
Purdue Fort Wayne got past Bowling Green in the quarterfinal round, in a game that was decided in the final minute. The Mastodons of Purdue Fort Wayne are coming into this game with a record of 22-12.
Tarleton State has gone 25-9 so far this season, and they just missed out on getting to the NCAA Tournament. The Texans blew out Abilene Christian and Texas Southern to advance to the semifinal round.
Tarleton State is coming into this game as a 5.5 point betting favorite over Purdue Fort Wayne.
Mastodons Will Play Slow
The Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons are scoring 80.9 points per game this season, but they will slow things down in this game. Purdue Fort Wayne doesn’t have the talent or athleticism to keep pace in this game, but they can make shots.
Jalen Jackson is leading the way for this team with 16.2 points per game, and he is going to have to be a star on Monday night. Jackson is a high volume shooter, but other players on this roster are going to have to step up.
Purdue Fort Wayne did allow 75 points in their win over Bowling Green, and the defense is going to be tested in this matchup. The Mastodons do have some momentum, but they are playing in a tough environment in this game.
Texans Looking to Score
Tarleton State has poured in over 82 points in three straight games, and this team is looking to put points on the board in a hurry. The numbers show that this team is scoring just 83.5 points per game, but they have some players who are getting hot.
Jakorie Smith is averaging 15.8 points per game this season, and he gives opponents a tough matchup in the paint. Tarleton State is also willing to shoot early in the clock, and that will be something to watch.
This team has been playing much better on defense of late, and that is going to be a huge key in this matchup. Playing in front of their home crowd should also give this team a nice boost.
Tarleton State Gets it Done
It’s a bit of a shock to see Purdue Fort Wayne in this position as they pulled off a big upset to get to this point. Purdue Fort Wayne will do everything they can to slow down the action in this game, but it’s just not happening.
Tarleton State simply has too many weapons on the floor at all times, and they are always looking to run. The Texans are going to make shots on their home floor in this game, and the crowd will give them a boost as well.
Bet on the Tarleton State Texans at -5.5 as they pick up a big win to advance to the CIT Championship Game.
