Mount St. Mary’s and American meet in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament on Wednesday night. The game will be played at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, with tip-off set for 6:40 PM ET. The winner will advance to face Duke in the East Region’s first round.
Both teams enter the game with identical 22-12 records. American won the Patriot League tournament to earn its automatic bid, while Mount St. Mary’s claimed the MAAC title. The teams last played in November when American won 68-65. American leads the all-time series 38-32.
Mount St. Mary’s Preview – Defense Leading the Way
Mount St. Mary’s reached the NCAA Tournament by winning the MAAC title with a strong defensive performance. They held Iona to just 49 points in their conference championship game. The Mountaineers have leaned on guards Dola Adebayo and Dallas Hobbs, who average 13.2 and 12.6 points per game, respectively.
Forward Jedy Cordilia leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.3 boards per game. Cordilia has been key in defending the paint, adding shot-blocking presence to their lineup. Guard Xavier Lipscomb adds solid perimeter defense and is a steady playmaker on offense.
Mount St. Mary’s limits opponents to 67.3 points per game, ranking 60th nationally in scoring defense. They excel at slowing the game down and forcing teams into difficult shots. Their defensive strategy has played a major role in their recent run of success. They have hit the moneyline in 21 of their last 32 games and consistently play in low-scoring contests. The Mountaineers have also covered the spread in 22 of their last 32 games.
American Preview – Balanced Scoring Helping the Eagles
American enters the NCAA Tournament after winning the Patriot League tournament. The Eagles are led by Matt Rogers, who averages 17 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Guard Elijah Stephens also contributes 10.6 points per contest while playing a key role in running the offense.
American’s offense has been efficient, hitting 44.2% of their shots this season. They excel at sharing the ball, ranking 87th nationally in assists per game. This movement has helped them find consistent scoring across multiple players.
Defensively, American allows 67.3 points per game and has shown improvement late in the season. Guard Greg Jones has been an active defender with key steals in recent games. American’s ability to create turnovers and control tempo has been critical to their success. They have been strong at home, winning 14 of their 16 home games this season, and have covered the spread in 17 of their last 32 games.
Betting Prediction
This game is expected to be low-scoring with both teams relying heavily on their defense. The total has been trending under for both teams, making the under a strong play. American’s slight edge in scoring balance and rebounding gives them the advantage.
Mount St. Mary’s has been strong against the spread, but American’s recent form and ability to control pace should make the difference. Look for American to win and cover in what should be a tight contest.
Pick: American -2.5
Enjoy the game, and the winner goes to the first round of the big dance!
