FACTS & STATS: Site: St. Pete Times Forum (20,500) -- Tampa, Florida.. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Siena 2-3, Vanderbilt 9-10. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The Vanderbilt Commodores and Siena Saints meet for the first time ever on the hardwood tonight, as they tussle in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at St. Pete Times Forum. The victor of this Midwest Regional matchup will advance to the second round on Sunday against either Villanova or Clemson. The Commodores have been a Top-25 team for virtually the entire season, so after getting ousted from the SEC Tournament there was little worry the program wouldn't be invited to this event. The recipient of an at-large bid, courtesy of 26 wins, Vanderbilt is making its second straight and 10th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Last season, as a sixth-seed, the Commodores advanced to the "Sweet 16" for the second time in school history. As for Siena, it captured Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament title and with that came an automatic berth into the Field of 65. This is the fourth NCAA Tournament appearance for the program and its first since 2002. In three prior showings, the Saints have gone 2-3 in this event.

Behind 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 38.3 percent from long range, the Saints are averaging a solid 76.8 ppg for the season. Edwin Ubiles guides this potent attack with 17.3 ppg and he is also snaring 4.2 rpg and hitting on 53.3 percent of his field goal tries. Kenny Hasbrouck is a 39.3 percent shooter for three-point range and that has helped him to average 15.6 ppg. He is also a tenacious defender as his team-high 74 steals would indicate. Alex Franklin grabs a team-best 8.0 rpg for Siena and he also contributes 15.2 ppg on 56.6 percent shooting from the field. Ronald Moore chips in with 8.7 ppg and he has been responsible for running the offense, handing out a squad-high 5.3 apg.

The Commodores are one of the most explosive teams in the tournament field, as they are tallying a healthy 80.6 on 46.7 percent shooting from the field and 40.4 percent from downtown. Shan Foster is as dangerous a player as their is and he is averaging a team-high 20.5 ppg courtesy of an impressive 47.3 percent shooting from three-point land. Freshman A.J. Ogilvy emerged as a big time performer for Vanderbilt this season and he turns in 17.0 ppg and a team- best 6.8 rpg while knocking down 59.3 percent of his chances from the floor. Alex Gordon contributes 11.0 ppg and 3.2 apg and he is another player that is dangerous from beyond the arc, connecting on 40.5 percent of his opportunities.

Both teams like to get out and run the floor and keep things moving at a high pace, so expect a high-scoring affair in this one. Vanderbilt though, is the more electrifying team and behind the efforts of Foster and Ogilvy, it should prevail tonight.

Predicted Outcome

Vanderbilt 88, Siena 77