The Prairie View A&M men's basketball team will open Southwestern Athletic Conference play Saturday in a 5:30 p.m. game at Southern.
 
Radio coverage on the Prairie View A&M Sports Network begins at 2:45 p.m. online at pvpanthers.com/women with the pregame show prior to the women's game between the two schools at 3 p.m. The men's game can be heard with a pregame show approximately 15 minutes prior to tip online as well at pvpanthers.com/men.
 
The Panthers are coming off a home-opening 81-65 win Wednesday over Huston-Tillotson. Gerard Andrus had season highs in points (22) and rebounds (nine) to lead three players in double figures. Gary Blackston posted his 11th double-figure scoring game this season with 18 points along with seven rebounds and a season-high five assists. Darius Williams came off the bench to score 15 points along with three rebounds. Dennis Jones made his second straight start and had a season high six assists.
 
The Panthers dished a season-high 22 assists on a season-high 33 made field goals. The assists total was
the highest since recording 23 vs. Jarvis Christian on 12/29/17). PVAMU forced a season-high 28 turnovers, the most since forcing 28 vs. Southern on 1/3/18.
 
Southern is led by first-year head coach Sean Woods, who is in his second stint as a SWAC head coach. Woods was head coach at Miss. Valley St. from 2008-12, leading the Delta Devils to the SWAC regular season and tournament titles in his final season.
 
The Jaguars posted their only win in non-conference play at home over Wiley (74-65). SU faced Alabama, Baylor, Louisville, Lafayette, and Marquette among its non-conference schedule. Eddie Reese leads three players in double figures and is sixth in the SWAC in scoring at 14.5 points per game. Sidney Umude is second at 11.4 ppg, and Richard Lee is third at 10.4 ppg.
 
Last season, PVAMU won both meetings over Southern (78-74 at home on Jan. 3; 77-69 on road Mar. 3). The Panthers are 4-1 vs. Southern in the Byron Smith era.

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