Sports News

SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (22-11, 15-7 OVC) vs. Houston Cougars (30-4, 22-1 Big 12)

Wichita, Kansas; Thursday, 2 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cougars -28.5; over/under is 126.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 2 Houston plays in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against SIU-Edwardsville.

The Houston Cougars' record in Big 12 play is 22-1, and their record is 8-3 in non-conference games. Houston is the top team in the Big 12 at limiting opponent scoring, giving up 58.5 points while holding opponents to 38.3% shooting.

The SIU-Edwardsville Cougars' record in OVC action is 15-7. SIU-Edwardsville is third in the OVC with 10.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Jo Valrie averaging 3.7.

Houston's average of 8.1 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.8 more made shots on average than the 7.3 per game SIU-Edwardsville allows. SIU-Edwardsville has shot at a 43.4% clip from the field this season, 5.1 percentage points greater than the 38.3% shooting opponents of Houston have averaged.

TOP PERFORMERS: LJ Cryer is shooting 42.2% from beyond the arc with 2.9 made 3-pointers per game for the Houston Cougars, while averaging 15.2 points. Milos Uzan is averaging 15 points over the last 10 games.

Ray'Sean Taylor is averaging 19.3 points, 3.8 assists and two steals for the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars. Ring Malith is averaging 12.6 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Houston Cougars: 10-0, averaging 70.5 points, 30.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 61.3 points per game.

SIU-Edwardsville Cougars: 7-3, averaging 72.5 points, 34.9 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 5.7 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.6 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Furman Paladins (25-9, 13-8 SoCon) at North Texas Mean Green (24-8, 15-5 AAC)

Denton, Texas; Wednesday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: North Texas and Furman play in the National Invitation Tournament.

The Mean Green have gone 15-5 against AAC teams, with a 9-3 record in non-conference play. North Texas leads the AAC at limiting opponent scoring, allowing 59.7 points while holding opponents to 41.0% shooting.

The Paladins are 13-8 in SoCon play. Furman averages 77.6 points while outscoring opponents by 8.0 points per game.

North Texas makes 45.1% of its shots from the field this season, which is 3.2 percentage points higher than Furman has allowed to its opponents (41.9%). Furman has shot at a 45.7% clip from the field this season, 4.7 percentage points higher than the 41.0% shooting opponents of North Texas have averaged.

TOP PERFORMERS: Atin Wright is scoring 15.2 points per game and averaging 2.4 rebounds for the Mean Green. Brenen Lorient is averaging 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.

Pjay Smith Jr. is averaging 18 points, 3.9 assists and 1.6 steals for the Paladins. Nick Anderson is averaging 3.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Mean Green: 8-2, averaging 67.8 points, 29.8 rebounds, 11.8 assists, 6.4 steals and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 61.0 points per game.

Paladins: 7-3, averaging 79.6 points, 31.6 rebounds, 17.0 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 72.2 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Omaha Mavericks (22-12, 16-3 Summit League) vs. St. John's Red Storm (30-4, 21-2 Big East)

Providence, Rhode Island; Thursday, 9:45 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Red Storm -18.5; over/under is 147.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 5 St. John's and Omaha square off in the NCAA Tournament opening round.

The Red Storm have gone 21-2 against Big East opponents, with a 9-2 record in non-conference play. St. John's scores 78.7 points and has outscored opponents by 12.8 points per game.

The Mavericks' record in Summit League play is 16-3. Omaha is third in the Summit League with 32.9 rebounds per game led by Marquel Sutton averaging 7.9.

St. John's average of 6.0 made 3-pointers per game is 2.7 fewer made shots on average than the 8.7 per game Omaha gives up. Omaha averages 8.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 more makes per game than St. John's allows.

TOP PERFORMERS: Aaron Scott is shooting 29.6% from beyond the arc with 1.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Red Storm, while averaging 8.5 points and 1.5 steals. RJ Luis is shooting 42.7% and averaging 18.4 points over the last 10 games.

Sutton is scoring 19.1 points per game and averaging 7.9 rebounds for the Mavericks. JJ White is averaging 16.6 points and 2.8 rebounds over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Red Storm: 9-1, averaging 79.3 points, 36.6 rebounds, 17.1 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.0 points per game.

Mavericks: 8-2, averaging 84.0 points, 34.2 rebounds, 15.8 assists, 6.0 steals and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 76.3 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Yale Bulldogs (22-7, 15-1 Ivy League) vs. Texas A&M Aggies (22-10, 11-8 SEC)

Denver; Thursday, 7:25 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Aggies -7.5; over/under is 139.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 19 Texas A&M and Yale square off in the NCAA Tournament opening round.

The Aggies' record in SEC play is 11-8, and their record is 11-2 in non-conference play. Texas A&M is 3-3 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.

The Bulldogs are 15-1 in Ivy League play. Yale is third in the Ivy League with 16.2 assists per game led by Bez Mbeng averaging 5.5.

Texas A&M scores 74.3 points per game, 4.6 more points than the 69.7 Yale gives up. Yale scores 13.8 more points per game (81.7) than Texas A&M gives up to opponents (67.9).

TOP PERFORMERS: Wade Taylor IV averages 2.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Aggies, scoring 15.7 points while shooting 33.0% from beyond the arc. Zhuric Phelps is shooting 36.0% and averaging 12.7 points over the past 10 games.

Mbeng is averaging 13.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.9 steals for the Bulldogs. John Poulakidas is averaging 18.4 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aggies: 5-5, averaging 72.0 points, 36.5 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 6.8 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 39.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.8 points per game.

Bulldogs: 9-1, averaging 80.1 points, 33.5 rebounds, 14.4 assists, 5.5 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 71.1 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.