NCAA basketball on Wednesday night and we will see the Cal Poly SLO Mustangs take on the Texas Southern Tigers in Dayton, Ohio as part of the NCAA Tournaments First Four. The game has a start time of 6:40 pm (Eastern) and will be televised on TruTv. Vegas odds have the Mustangs listed as 3.5 point favorites, while the total sits at 131.
Stat Pack: The Cal Poly SLO Mustangs got here by winning the Big West Tournament. In that tournament they upset UCSB, Cal Irvine and CSU Northridge. Cal Poly comes in with just a 13-19 SU record and an 11-19 ATS mark on the year. Offense is not a strong suit of this team. They play a very slow brand of ball that has resulted in just 63.2 ppg, which is 327th in the nation. The offense is led by Chris Eversley, who averages 13.6 ppg, while also leading the team in rebounding at 7.1 rpg. David Nwaba is the only other player on the team that averages in double figures as he scores 11.9 ppg. Defense is where this team has hung their hat this year as they have allowed just 63.4 ppg on the year, which is 35th in the nation. Teams do shoot well vs them, however, hitting 43.2% of their shots, which is 155th in the nation.
Texas Southern received a berth by winning the SWAC Tournament, in which they beat Grambling, Alcorn State and Prairie View. Texas Southern comes into the game with a 19-14 record on the year. This is a solid offensive team that averages 76.2 ppg (51st) on 46.2% shooting overall (79th) and 36.1% from behind the arc (98th). The offense is led by Lawrence Johnson-Danner (22.0 ppg) and Aaric Murray (21.2 ppg), who are the only duo on the same team that average 20+ points in the nation. D.D. Scarver (13.2 ppg) and Jose Rodriquez (11.3 ppg) also average in double figures for the Tigers. Overall this team has 8 players that average 6.9 ppg or more. Defense is optional on this team as they have allowed 73.7 ppg (271st) on 44.8% shooting overall (248th) and 35.9% from long range (270th).
Pick: Going with the Under in this one. Cal Poly SLO plays at a very slow pace and it really helped them in the Big West tournament. I can't see them changing their tune here as it gives them their best shot at winning. Texas Southern doesn't really play at a sow pace, but what they have done is played excellent defense during their 9 game win streak, allowing just 63.9 ppg over that stretch. It will not be hard for them to maintain numbers like that vs the Mustang squad that has averaged just 58.8 ppg in their last 5 games and just 62 ppg overall this year. Cal Poly can't score, but they know all about playing some defense as they have allowed just 64.7 ppg overall, including 56.2 ppg in their last 5 games. Cal Poly should slow the game down and give Texas Southern less possessions than they want. Both teams play sound defense and really only one team can score. Very hard to see either team hitting 65 points in this one.
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