Emmitsburg's Mount St. Mary’s Lands NCAA First Four Match-up with AU

Mount St. Mary’s University, located just over 20 miles northwest of Westminster, has secured a spot in the Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament's First Four where they face American University this Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio. The game starts at 6:40 p.m. EDT and airs on TruTV, with the winner facing Duke on Friday.

The Mountaineers earned their place in the First Four after capturing their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship with a 63-49 victory over Iona. This marks the Emmitsburg, Maryland, program’s seventh NCAA Tournament appearance and its first as a member of the MAAC.

Mount St. Mary’s enters the tournament with a 22-12 record, marking its most successful season since joining NCAA Division I in 1988. The team, tied for fourth in the MAAC final standings, was the tournament’s No. 6 seed but demonstrated resilience and consistency down the stretch, winning 11 of its final 14 games. This momentum carried into the MAAC Tournament, where the Mountaineers controlled their opponents with suffocating defense and efficient rebounding.

A key factor in the Mount’s late-season success has been its defensive discipline. Over the past 14 games, the team has held opponents to just 37.5% shooting from the field and 30.5% from three-point range while limiting them to an average of 65.1 points per game. Their performance in the MAAC Tournament was even more impressive, as they allowed just 54.0 points per game and restricted opponents to 32.6% shooting overall and 20.0% from beyond the arc. The Mountaineers have also dominated the boards, posting a +9.1 rebounding margin over the past 14 games.

Offensively, the Mount was led in the championship game by Dallas Hobbs, who contributed 18 points and seven assists. Tournament MVP Dola Adebayo added 15 points, while Arlandus Keyes chipped in with 14 points. All three players earned spots on the All-Tournament team, highlighting their importance to the Mount’s success.

The Mountaineers will face American University in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four. This will be the 71st meeting between the two programs, with American holding a 37-33 edge in the all-time series. The Eagles have won the last four matchups, including a 68-64 victory over the Mount on November 22, 2023. However, with their strong finish to the season and a defense that has consistently held opponents under 60 points in recent contests, the Mountaineers will be looking to reverse that trend on the national stage.

Mount St. Mary’s has experience in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four, having played in this round four times previously. The program has a 2-2 record in such games, with victories over Coppin State in 2008 and New Orleans in 2017. Their most recent appearance came in 2021 when they fell to Texas Southern.

Should Mount St. Mary’s advance past American, they will face a significant challenge in the next round: a matchup against the East Region’s top seed, Duke, in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday, March 21, at 2:50 p.m. The Mountaineers have historically been a No. 16 seed in the tournament, and while they have yet to advance past the opening round, their defensive strength and recent form could make them a formidable opponent.

This tournament bid is the latest chapter in Mount St. Mary’s basketball history. The program competed in the NCAA Tournament in 1995, 1999, 2008, 2014, 2017, and 2021. Before its Division I era, the university had a strong presence in Division II, making 14 tournament appearances and reaching the Final Four five times. The pinnacle of the program’s Division II success came in 1962 when it won the College Division national championship.

Mount St. Mary’s has positioned itself well heading into the NCAA Tournament with a balanced team that has excelled on defense and rebounding. While the First Four matchup against American presents a familiar challenge, the Mountaineers have shown they can compete at a high level, particularly in recent weeks. A win would extend their postseason run and allow them to test themselves against one of college basketball’s premier programs in Duke.

For local basketball fans, Mount St. Mary’s presence in the NCAA Tournament offers an exciting opportunity to follow a nearby team on the national stage.