Howard vs Wagner Preview: NCAA Tournament Tips Off
First Final Four Game of the NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament opens on Tuesday with a First Four contest in Dayton between 16 seeds Howard and Wagner. This is for the right to take on top-seeded North Carolina in the West Region. As one of the few March Madness games today, it will be a good one. Check out our Howard vs Wagner preview for tips on the betting odds, which opened with Howard -3 on the point spread and a total of 125.5 points.
Howard vs Wagner 
Day/Time:
Records: Howard (18-16), Wagner (16-15)
Location: University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio
Streaming: truTV
Surprise Conference Tourney Winners Do Battle
Neither of these teams was expected to be a part of the Field of 68 as is usually the case for teams from these smaller conferences.
Howard finished in third place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference during the regular season, while Wagner was sixth in the Northeast Conference with an overall record under .500 in the regular season. But they won their respective tournaments to qualify here.
The NCAAB scores from the conference tournaments showed two teams getting hot at the right time. Both come into this one on three-game winning streaks.
Which of these college basketball teams will parlay their momentum into another victory on Tuesday to give themselves a date with top-seeded North Carolina? That’s why you have this Howard vs Wagner preview to help you make your educated guess.
Wagner’s Improbable Run To The Dance
Wagner was under .500 in conference play in the NCAAB regular season but knocked off the Nos. 1, 2, and 3 seeds in the Northeast Conference Tournament to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003.
Junior guard Tahron Allen averaged 10.8 points in the regular season but had a huge conference tournament, scoring 22 points in two of the Seahawks’ three victories, including in the title game.
Fellow junior guard Melvin Council Jr. led Wagner in scoring this season with 14.6 points per game while also averaging 5.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists. The backcourt duo is going to be key for the Seahawks’ chances. They are up for the challenge having each played 40 minutes in the NEC Tournament title game.
Howard Back Looking For Better Result
The Bison are back in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. They played in the “Big Dance” last year but to Kansas in the first round.
Howard didn’t look like it’d be back this season but got hot at the end of the regular season, winning four of their last five before reeling off three straight wins at the MEAC Tournament.
The team had three different leading scorers in those victories, with senior guard Jordan Hairston leading the way with 18 points in the championship game.
Hairston averaged just 6.1 points on the season but has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight NCAAB games, averaging 14.4 points over that span.
Junior guard Bryce Harris (16.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 1.1 blocks) has been the best college basketball player for the Bison this season.
Battle Of Styles Will Determine Who Advances
Wagner is allowing just 62.1 points per game this season, making its NCAAB ranking sixth in the country in scoring defense. Compare that to the 75.1 points per game that Howard is averaging, and you can see how the Bison’s ability to score at their usual pace will be a big factor in this one.
The Bison were just in the Big Dance last season and that experience will be a big factor as we look at the Howard vs Wagner preview. Wagner’s defense will keep this one close for a while, but we like Howard at -3 to come away with the victory and advance to meet the Tar Heels.
For NCAA basketball odds, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
