PANTHERS OPEN SWAC PLAY SATURDAY NIGHT
Prairie View A&M kicks off SWAC play tonight in the William J. Nicks Building at 7:30 p.m. against the Braves of Alcorn State.  The Panthers are playing at home for only the second time this season as they've played 11 non-conference games on the road. The Panthers are looking for their first win of the season after a tough non-conference slate which had them leading or within a point of several major programs on numerous occasions. 

NEW FACES IN ABUNDANCE
The 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 have spent non-conference play trying to mold a unit which returned one starter and seven lettermen from the previous season.  Junior guard Tevin Bellinger is the top scorer on the team and ranks 10th in the SWAC with 12.3 points per game while junior forward Admassu Williams follows with 11.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Williams ranks 12th in the SWAC in scoring, second in rebounding, eighth in field goal percentage (45.4%) and second in blocked shots with one per game while Bellinger ranks 12th in steals and third in minutes played. Returnees Zach Hamilton and Karim York average 7.5 points and 7.3 points per game, respectively.

THE SERIES
In Prairie View, Alcorn State has struggled over the past few years as the Panthers own a 6-1 mark in the dome against them since 2009. Alcorn State holds a 51-25 edge over Prairie View A&M lifetime but the Panthers have won 12 of 19 contests versus the Braves dating back to March of 2007.  Saturday's game marks the 21st time head coach Byron Rimm II will face Alcorn State. As the head coach at PVAMU, Rimm has faced ASU 20 times and compiled a 12-8 mark. Since 1956-57, PVAMU is 3-5 against first-year coaches at Alcorn State.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS
Head coach Byron Rimm II has a major task ahead of him with the departure of four talented senior starters from last year's squad. With a roster full of newcomers, guard Tevin Bellinger and Admassu Williams have emerged as the team's top two scoring threats while returning guard Jayrn Johnson has moved into a starting role.  Two-year letterwinner Karim York and sophomore Zach Hamilton has emerged as threats off the bench.  With the team trying to gel still, the Panthers  have used six different starting lineup combinations this season.