The 16^th-seed Howard Bison (18-16) will battle with the 16^th-seed Wagner Seahawks (16-15) in the First Four matchup in the West Region of the Men’s Basketball Championship on Tuesday, March 19, at 6:40 PM ET. This showdown will unfold at the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, where the Bison hold the advantage with a -3.5 (-110) point spread.

The Bison have won their last three games and are 4-1 out of their previous five. They recently defeated the Delaware State Hornets 70-67 in the MEAC Tournament final.

Jevin Muniz scored 24 points in the conference tournament final, while Bryce Harris leads the team currently with 16.6 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. Both players must have excellent performances to keep their season alive.

The Bison score an average of 75.1 points per game, ranking them 129^th nationally. Their offensive efficiency is a bit weaker compared to their scoring average, which is positioned at 170^th with a rating of 106.5.

Defensively, they allow an average of 74.4 points per game, placing them at 260^th. Prioritizing stops becomes imperative, given their 232^nd rank in defensive efficiency, measured with a rating of 105.5. Looking at their offense, there needs to be more breathing room to work with.

The Seahawks are 3-2 in their last five games and are riding a three-game win streak heading into this matchup. Their most recent success was a 54-47 upset over the Merrimack Warriors in the Northeast Conference Championship final.

Sharon Allen led the Bison with 22 points in their upset victory. Melvin Council Jr. will also be a key player here, especially since he leads them with 14.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in each matchup.

The Seahawks boast one of the most sluggish offensive performances nationwide. They average merely 63.5 points per game, which places them 355^th out of 362 teams. Their offensive efficiency sits at 310^th with a rating of 99.8, showing they are not appealing to see on this end of the floor.

Conversely, their defense has excelled this season and is likely why they are here right now, as their pace of play helps secure advantageous positions for victory. Allowing opponents a mere 62.1 points per game, they stand sixth overall. Furthermore, their defensive efficiency ranks 36^th with a rating of 97.5.

MyBookie provides comprehensive college basketball betting odds, favoring the Howard Bison by 3.5 points. Statistical analysis suggests Bison has a 54.8 percent probability of securing victory. The Bison are more appealing on paper to get it done here, especially with a more robust offense to push the tempo.