Preview of NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Game

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — A classic tournament mismatch is set for Thursday when the powerhouse Duke Blue Devils face the underdog Siena Saints in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball playoff game at the Bi-Lo Center.

Top-seeded Duke (32-2), one of the nation’s elite teams all season, enters as a heavy favorite against 16th-seeded Siena (23-11), which earned its spot by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament.

The Blue Devils, whose two losses came by a combined five points, are riding a 12-game winning streak. They last played on March 14, defeating Virginia 74-70 to win the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. Sophomore guard Cayden Boozer has been a steadying force, averaging 10.9 points and 3.1 assists per game. In the ACC title game, he played all 40 minutes, scoring 16 points with four assists.

The Saints, winners of seven of their last eight, are led by MAAC Tournament MVP Gavin Doty. The senior guard averaged 20.7 points over his final three conference tournament games, including a 23-point effort in a 64-54 win at Merrimack on March 10 that sealed their NCAA bid. Doty has scored 20 or more points in 12 games this season.

Duke’s depth and athleticism present a monumental challenge. Alongside Boozer, the Blue Devils feature All-ACC forward Cameron Boozer (16.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and high-flying wing Isaiah Evans (17.2 ppg). They rank in the top 10 nationally in both offensive efficiency and adjusted defensive efficiency.

Siena will counter with a methodical pace and rely heavily on Doty’s scoring and the interior defense of center Riley Mulvey, who had five blocks in the win over Merrimack. The Saints allow just 65.2 points per game.

The Blue Devils are installed as a 28-point pregame favorite by FanDuel Sportsbook, with the over/under set at 135.5 points.

The game is scheduled for a 7:10 p.m. EDT tip-off on Thursday, March 19, and will be broadcast on CBS. The winner will advance to the second round on Saturday.