Davidson Wildcats (15-15) vs St. Bonaventure Bonnies (14-17)
Game Info: Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 11:30 am (Barclays Center)
Betting Odds: Davidson Wildcats -4.5 -- Over/Under: 136.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The St. Bonaventure Bonnies and the Davidson Wildcats will meet in Brooklyn to battle in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Championship at the Barclays Center on the USA Network. Davidson leads the head-to-head series, 11-7, after winning the last two meetings.
St. Bonaventure finished at 14-17 following a road loss to UMass. The Bonnies were out scored by the Minutemen in both halves, and they’d lose by eleven, 71-60. SBU is scoring 67.2 ppg, while allowing 67.7 ppg, and shooting 42.9% from the field.
St. Bonaventure dropped six of their last seven games, but they’ll look to recreate last year’s A10 tournament magic here. Junior guard Daryl Banks went off for 36 points in their lone February win over St. Joe’s in the home finale, and he leads the team in scoring (15.6). Sophomore forward Chad Venning has reached double figures in nine of the last ten games, and he’s second on the team with 12.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg.
Davidson closed at 15-15 following a road win in Rhode Island. The Wildcats pulled away from the Rams in the second half to win by fourteen, 68-54. Davidson is scoring 70.6 points per game, while allowing 69.1 ppg, and shooting 44.6% from the field.
Davidson closed the season by winning four of their last five games, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them make a run here in Brooklyn. Davidson plays through the inside-out duo of Foster Loyer and Sam Mennenga. Loyer went off for a game-high 33 points in the season finale win over URI, and he leads Davidson in scoring (16.6) and assists (4.4). Mennenga scored 24 points in the February win over St. Bonaventure, and he’s averaging 15.6 ppg and a team-lead 6.6 rpg.
St. Bonaventure is 17-14 against the spread this season, with a 15-16 over/under record. Davidson is 15-14 ATS this year, with a 10-19 o/u record.
Davidson closed the season on a good note, and I like their momentum carrying over into round one. The pairing of Foster Loyer and Sam Mennenga has come alive late, and I like leaning on that duo to perform on the tournament stage. St. Bonaventure will have the advantage of remaining in New York, but their struggles down the stretch were alarming, and they can be targeted here. Take Davidson’s spread in this second round matchup.