- Matchup: Siena Saints vs Duke Blue Devils
- Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
- Venue: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
- Broadcast: CBS
- Betting Odds: Siena (+29)
This page may include affiliate links at no extra cost to you, thanks for your support.
The Siena Saints (23-11) are set to face off against the Duke Blue Devils (32-2) at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Duke starts as significant favorites with a 29-point spread, while the game total is pegged at 135.5.
The Siena Saints recently triumphed against Merrimack, securing a 64-54 victory. They posted a 38.2% shooting percentage from the field (21 of 55) and converted 4 of their 16 attempts from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, they excelled, sinking 18 of 21 shots for an impressive 85.7%. Siena dominated the boards with a total of 45 rebounds, including 14 on the offensive end. They also recorded 13 assists while forcing 4 turnovers and grabbing 2 steals. On the defensive end, Siena held Merrimack to just 29.3% shooting from the floor (17 of 58). Merrimack managed only 9 assists and 8 steals and pulled down 22 rebounds (5 offensive, 17 defensive), without recording any blocks. Their free-throw accuracy was 76.9%, scoring 10 of their 13 attempts, alongside a 32.3% success rate from three-point range with 10 of 31 attempts. The Saints committed 11 personal fouls while Merrimack totaled 16.
Gavin Doty played a crucial role in the victory, contributing 23 points on 7 of 17 shooting over 38 minutes on the court. He also grabbed 8 rebounds and distributed 2 assists, finishing with a field goal percentage of 41.2%.
Siena approaches this game with a season record of 23-11. They average 10.3 turnovers per contest, committing 13.7 fouls per game. The Saints pull in an average of 34.4 rebounds per game and have accumulated 456 assists this season, ranking them 164th nationally in assists. They connect on 30.4% of their three-point attempts (183 of 601) and enjoy a 76.9% success rate from the charity stripe. Siena scores an average of 70.5 points per game, placing them 294th in Division 1 while shooting 45.7% from the field.
On defense, Siena generates 11.0 turnovers per game while averaging 16.6 personal fouls. They rank 67th nationally regarding assists allowed, having relinquished 389 this season. The Saints allow opposing teams a shooting percentage of 42.2% (805 of 1,909) and average 31.6 rebounds per game. They limit opponents to a 32.8% success rate from three-point territory and stand 15th in Division 1 in points allowed per game, averaging just 65.7.
In their last outing, the Duke Blue Devils clinched a close 74-70 win over Virginia. In terms of rebounding, Duke permitted Virginia to grab 24 rebounds in total (7 offensive). Duke hit 33.3% of their three-point attempts (8 of 24) and went 14 of 16 from the free-throw line (87.5%). On the defensive front, Duke allowed Virginia to shoot 44.4% from the field (24 of 54). For their part, the Blue Devils shot 25 of 65 from the field, 38.5%, and made 8 of 25 attempts from beyond the arc (32.0%). They capitalized on opportunities at the line with an 80.0% success rate, making 16 of 20 attempts. Virginia committed 17 fouls, giving Duke ample chances at the free-throw line, while Duke turned the ball over 11 times but also secured 4 steals. Duke gathered a total of 40 rebounds, including 31 defensive and 9 offensive.
Isaiah Evans was a significant contributor for Duke, scoring 20 points on 6 of 14 shooting, which landed him a field goal percentage of 42.9%. He also recorded 2 rebounds and 1 assist in his 29 minutes of action.
Duke owns a season record of 32-2. Offensively, they are excelling with a field goal percentage of 49.0%, ranking 22nd nationally. They have scored 2,798 points this season (82.3 per game) while pulling down 40.3 rebounds per game. Their assist average stands at 16.9 per contest, placing them 30th in Division 1, and they average 10.5 turnovers per game. The Blue Devils are committing 15.7 personal fouls per game while shooting 72.4% from the free-throw line.
The Blue Devils stand third in the nation regarding points allowed per game, allowing just 63.1. They force 12.2 turnovers per game and limit opponents to a 39.2% shooting percentage (9th in college). Duke’s defense restricts opponents to a mere 30.4% from three-point range (273 of 897) and allows 71.7% shooting from the free-throw line. They also give up an average of 11.6 assists and 29.4 rebounds per game, ranking 48th and 7th in college basketball.
Who will prevail in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Choose Siena (+29)
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up or make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission always at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping us keep this site running.
