More action is coming soon in the West Region, as the 12^th-seed Grand Canyon Antelopes (29-4) will showcase their talents against the fifth-seed Saint Mary's Gaels (26-7). The Men's Basketball Championship opening round for this region will continue on Friday, March 22, at 10:05 PM ET at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington. The Gaels are currently favored with a point spread of -5.5 (-115).

The Antelopes are on a five-game win streak and have had an incredible run this season. Their most recent win was an 89-74 victory over the UT Arlington Mavericks in the WAC Tournament Final.

Tyson Grant-Foster led with 22 points in that game and currently leads them in scoring each game at 19.8. He will need to set the tone early if they want to push the tempo of this matchup. He did well in the conference, helping them succeed with a 17-3 record and first overall ranking.

They average 79.8 points per game, ranking 44^th nationally. Their offensive effectiveness is 114.0, ranking 32^nd, indicating a significant advantage in their offensive play.

Conversely, their defense restricts opponents to 66.9 points per game, positioning them 46^th. Moreover, boasting a defensive rating of 95.6, they stand 13^th in the nation. Can they achieve these numbers outside of their conference?

The Gaels are on a two-game win streak, with their most recent win being a 69-60 outing over the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the West Coast Conference Tournament Final. Aidan Mahaney pushed them to victory with 23 points.

They have only lost once in conference play and boast a 15-1 record. Mahaney leads their offense with 13.9 points per game and makes 39.4 percent of his field goals, but he will need to be more precise in this one.

They offer an appealing buffer between their offense and defense. They accumulate 74.2 points a game, which comes in at 159^th nationally. Getting good looks at the rim without turning it over is crucial, as they have an offensive rating of 116.0 and rank 21^st.

The Gaels are holding teams to 58.7 points per game, the second-best in the nation. They also do an excellent job at getting stops, with a defensive efficiency rating of 91.7 (fourth)

The betting odds from MyBookie show that the Saint Mary's Gaels are 5.5-point favorites. Market insights give them a good chance at success, with a 77.0 percent probability of success. Based on their actions on both ends of the court, the Gaels are an appealing option to choose here.