PINE BLUFF, Ark. – The SWAC-leading Prairie View A&M men's basketball team will look to end the month of January undefeated at Arkansas-Pine Bluff Monday night.
It's the second game of a doubleheader at UAPB that begins with the women's game between the two schools at 5:30 p.m. (PVAMU 7-9 overall, 4-2 SWAC; UAPB 4-9, 1-5). The PVAMU Sports Network broadcast begins with Panthers Countdown To Tipoff at 5:15 p.m. at pvpanthers.com/women. The men's game between Prairie View A&M (8-11, 6-0) and Arkansas—Pine Bluff (7-12, 4-2) is set to tip around 7:45 p.m. at pvpanthers.com/men.
PVAMU, which is 16-2 in SWAC play over the last 18 conference games, remains the SWAC's lone unbeaten team in both men's and women's play.
Prairie View A&M has won seven straight games, including six straight in league play, the longest streak in the
Byron Smith era. The overall winning streak is the longest since 2014-15, when PVAMU won seven straight games all in conference play between Feb. 7-Mar. 2, 2015 (58-55 at Texas Southern 2/7/15; 61-55 at Jackson St. 61-55 2/14/15; 95-44 at Grambling 2/16/15; 84-74 vs. Miss. Valley St. 2/21/15; 79-58 vs. UAPB 2/23/15; 75-72 at Alabama A&M 2/28/15; 67-65 at Alabama St. 3/2/15).
In a game that saw 18 lead changes and 15 ties in the first 25+ minutes, the Panthers took control down the stretch to win at Miss. Valley St. 89-76 Saturday night.
Gary Blackston posted his fourth double-double in SWAC play, fifth of the season and sixth of his career with 14 points and 11 rebounds. He was one of four players in double figures as
Gerard Andrus led a balanced attack with 15 points,
Devonte Patterson scored 13, and
Darius Williams came off the bench to add 11.
The game was tied 40-40 at halftime before PVAMU scored 49 points in the second half, the highest in any half this season. Prairie View A&M took the lead for good at 52-51 with 14:28 to play on a Patterson layup, sparking a 10-0 run.
UAPB posted wins over California Baptist and Arkansas Little Rock among non-conference wins, and have defeated Miss. Valley St. (64-52), Alabama St. (82-71), Alabama A&M (50-49), and Texas Southern (90-86) in league play. Martaveous McKnight leads the SWAC in scoring (23.0 ppg), 3-pt FG percentage (40.3%), steals (1.9), and minutes (36.3), is tied for second in made 3-pt FGs per game (2.7), and is fifth in FG percentage (44.0%)
The Panthers split the two games against the Golden Lions last season, with each team winning on the road. PVAMU is 3-2 in Smith Era against UAPB. (W 57-55 at 2/20/16 - 1st win at UAPB since 2005; L 68-71 2 OT at UAPB 1/23/17; W 73-55 2/20/17; L 66-72 1/20/18; W 76-71 (ot) at UAPB 2/17/18).
