The Army Black Knights and the Bucknell Bison will meet on Tuesday in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament in a game where both teams will be fighting for survival in the postseason. After finishing near the bottom of the league standings, Army takes a road trip to face Bucknell at Sojka Pavilion. These two squads split their regular-season series, and this Army vs Bucknell matchup will serve as the rubber match for their series for this year. Before tip-off continue reading to get my pick for this important Patriot League contest.
Pick: Bucknell Bison -2.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3 out of 5
This may be the last game of the season for both Army and Bucknell, so there is added urgency for each program to avoid an early exit. Army enters on a downtrend, losing seven of its last eight before the tournament and has struggled against quality opponents all year. Bucknell was able to secure the second matchup of the season against Army, which could provide a confidence edge in this game. Both teams rank in the lower third of the conference in scoring efficiency and defensive consistency. Unforced turnovers and second-chance points could determine which squad advances.
Bucknell Key Players
Army Key Players
Stat | Army | Bucknell |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 72.7 | 67.4 |
Points allowed per game | 77.6 | 77.1 |
Team Field Goal % | 42% | 42% |
Rebounds per game | 35.5 | 31.2 |
Assists per game | 15.2 | 12.8 |
Score Projection: Army 71 – Bucknell 76 ATS PRO
Win Probability: Army 45%, Bucknell 55% ATS PRO
This Patriot League tournament first-round game is likely to be close, but Bucknell’s familiarity with the environment and recent head-to-head success give them a slight edge. Army has statistical advantages in some areas, but inconsistency late in games and recent struggles suggest backing Bucknell to advance is a prudent call. I'll lay the points with the Bison on their home floor here.
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