Duke Faces Mount St. Mary’s in NCAA Tournament Opener

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Duke Blue Devils are set to open their NCAA Tournament journey against the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers on Friday, March 21, at 2:50 p.m. ET, following their impressive victory in the ACC Tournament.

Duke enters the tournament with a season record of 31-3 and is a favorite to win against Mount St. Mary’s, which boasts a record of 23-12 after recently winning the MAAC Tournament. The Blue Devils, coached by Jon Scheyer in his first season post-Mike Krzyzewski, feature standout freshman Cooper Flagg, who is averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.

Despite dealing with an ankle injury during the ACC Tournament, Flagg has been cleared to play, giving Duke a crucial advantage. Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor also contribute significantly to the team’s offensive prowess, with 14.4 and 12.0 points per game, respectively.

Mount St. Mary’s is enjoying a historic season under head coach Donny Lind, having significantly improved from last year’s 13-19 record. The team secured their NCAA Tournament spot after a thrilling win over American University in the First Four. Dola Adebayo leads the Mountaineers with an average of 13.4 points and has been instrumental in the team’s success.

“We’ve come a long way this season, and we’re ready to face a top program like Duke,” Adebayo said. “This is an incredible opportunity for us.”

Alongside Adebayo, Jedy Cordilla leads the squad in rebounds with 7.3 per game, while Xavier Lipscomb dishes out 4.4 assists per game, contributing to the team’s overall performance.

Fans can catch the game live on CBS, where Ian Eagle, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, and Tracy Wolfson will provide coverage. Streaming options are available on Fubo (offering a free trial) and Paramount+, bringing the excitement of March Madness right to viewers’ screens.

The duel at Lenovo Center in Raleigh sets the stage for an exhilarating matchup as both teams aim to make their mark in this year’s NCAA Tournament.