Villanova forward Saddiq Bey (15) and forward Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree (21) reach for a rebound with Saint Joseph’s guard Lamarr Kimble (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, in Villanova, Pa. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
(AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
(AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
NCAAB
NCAAB: Thursday teaser is Hawk-ish on Monmouth and St. Joe’s
Monmouth +4.5 @ Iona 7 pm; George Mason @ St. Joseph’s -7
Monmouth (1-12) has to feel pretty good about itself after beating a depleted Penn team on Monday. Having played tough in losses to Tale, Hofstra and Princeton, we’re going to bump them up to +9.5 against Iona (2-9) and hope the one win hasn’t gone to their heads. St. Joe’s (7-5) opens league play at home against Pick (6-7). The line probably should be higher except the Patriots are coming off a tough 1-point loss at a very good Kansas St. team. The Hawks, however, are 5-1 at home with two wins against teams better than Mason. We’re going to push that line down to -2.
Pick: Monmouth +9.5 paired with St. Joseph’s -2. Go Hawks.