PANTHERS RESUME PLAY IN 2K CLASSIC SUBREGIONAL FRIDAY NIGHTPrairie View A&M heads east to Smithfield, Rhode Island for the subregional round of the 2K Classic. The Panthers will host Bryant University on Friday and play either Siena or Radford on Saturday. The Panthers opened the 2015-16 season in the 2K Classic with a 75-50 loss to Virginia Commonwealth on Friday, Nov. 13. Five days later, PVAMU traveled to Houston and fell 110-69 to Houston on Nov. 18.
NEW FACES IN ABUNDANCEThe Prairie View A&M men's basketball program was picked to finish fifth in a preseason poll of the SWAC's head coaches and sports information directors. The Panthers return one starter, seven lettermen and feature 12 newcomers entering the 2015-16 season. Newcomer
Tevin Bellinger leads the team in scoring with 13 points per game followed by newcomer
Admassu Williams' 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Returnees
Karim York and Zach Hamilton both average 8.5 points.
THE SERIESFriday's game marks the first meeting all-time between both schools as Bryant joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 2008. The Bulldogs participate in the Northeast Conference as the Panthers hold a 1-1 mark all-time against the league as they defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 77-66 in 2001 and fell 84-70 in 2012 as both games were at neutral sites.
ABOUT THE PANTHERSHead coach
Byron Rimm II has a major task ahead of him with the departure of four talented starters from last year's squad. With a roster full of newcomers, Rimm will turn to two-year letterwinner
Karim York to lead the way early on as the 6-9 Austin native averaged a career-high 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds while also shooting 46 percent from the field. In addition to York, senior guards
Jacoby Green and
Jayrn Johnson will take on larger roles this season as both were the first two options off the bench last season along with senior forward
Charleston Dobbs and sophomore forward Zach Hamilton.
THE LAST TIMEThe Panthers are 1-1 all-time versus Northeast Conference members as they defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 77-66 in 2001 and fell 84-70 in 2012 as both games were at neutral sites.
ABOUT BRYANTA member of the Northeast Conference, Bryant was picked to finish third in the NEC this season. Bryant went 12-6 in NEC play last season and tied for second overall with Robert Morris. Post Dan Garvin was their lone preseason NEC honoree as he averaged 10.9 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per outing. Bryant opened the season with a loss to defending national champion Duke (113-75) but rebounded with a 82-69 win over Division III Emerson. Sophomore guard Hunter Ware leads the team in scoring with 23.5 points per game followed by 19.5 points from Nisre Zouzoua.
