The Davidson Wildcats and Saint Louis Billikens collide Tuesday in a high-voltage A-10 Conference matchup at Belk Arena. Fresh off Bobby Durkin’s explosive 20-point performance against Fordham, Davidson aims to leverage home-court advantage against a Saint Louis squad fighting for conference positioning.
With both teams separated by just two games in the standings, this rivalry game carries postseason implications. Davidson (16-11, 6-8 A-10) enters as slim 1.5-point favorites on BetMGM, while the total sits at 144.5 points – a nod to both teams’ offensive efficiency.
Key factors shaping the matchup:
- Davidson’s home dominance (11-4 record)
- Saint Louis’ conference-best 34.1% three-point shooting
- Wildcats’ +5.0% field goal differential vs Billikens’ defense
The Wildcats’ offensive identity revolves around precision shooting, converting 46.1% from the field this season. Durkin’s 38.1% three-point accuracy complements Reed Bailey’s recent surge (21.4 PPG last 10 games). Saint Louis counters with Kalu Anya’s interior presence (8.7 RPG) and Robbie Avila’s scoring consistency (15.9 PPG last 10).
Recent trends reveal contrasting trajectories. While Davidson has struggled in close contests (1-3 in games decided by ≤4 points), Saint Louis’ 5-5 record over their last 10 masks defensive vulnerabilities (68.9 PPG allowed). The Billikens’ ability to contain Davidson’s perimeter shooters could prove decisive.
Tuesday’s game marks their first A-10 meeting this season, adding urgency to this rivalry. With both teams needing conference wins to bolster tournament resumes, expect a physical battle emphasizing shot selection and rebounding.