COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — The Prairie View A&M Panthers will battle the Southern Jaguars for the conference crown in the 2026 SWAC Men's Basketball Championship, set for Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. EST at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park.

Prairie View A&M enters the championship game riding the momentum of a dominant semifinal victory over the Alabama A&M Bulldogs and will look to lean on its high-powered offense and defensive intensity to claim the title.

Panthers Leaders
The Panthers are powered by one of the most dynamic backcourts in the conference.

Dontae Horne leads Prairie View A&M and ranks among the league's top scorers, averaging 20.4 points per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 80.3 percent from the free-throw line. Horne also contributes 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, making him one of the Panthers' most versatile threats.

Tai'Reon Joseph provides another scoring spark, averaging 18.5 points per contest while knocking down 59 three-pointers this season.

Inside, Cory Wells anchors the paint with 13.1 points and a team-leading 7.1 rebounds per game, while also protecting the rim with 37 blocks.

Lance Williams adds balance to the attack with 9.9 points per game, shooting 41.3 percent from three-point range, while Joey Madimba provides valuable interior scoring and rebounding off the bench.

Scouting the Jaguars
Southern will counter with a balanced lineup led by Michael Jacobs, who averages 17.2 points per game and has scored 517 points this season while shooting 40 percent from the field.

In the frontcourt, Malek Abdelgowad is a major presence, shooting an impressive 62.1 percent from the floor while averaging 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

DaMariee Jones contributes 10 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, giving the Jaguars another strong interior option.

From the perimeter, Cam Amboree and Fazl Oshodi provide scoring punch, combining for nearly 19 points per game, with Oshodi shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc.

Season Series
The two teams split their regular-season meetings, setting the stage for a decisive championship matchup.

In the first meeting, Prairie View A&M earned an 89-85 road victory behind 32 points from Joseph and 21 from Horne. The Panthers also made their presence felt defensively, recording nine blocks and forcing 13 turnovers.

The second matchup went down to the wire in Prairie View, where Horne erupted for a season-high 46 points, but Southern escaped with an 87-82 win after a late surge.

Championship Stakes
With the season series tied and both teams featuring explosive scoring options, Saturday's contest promises to be a high-energy battle for the SWAC title.

Prairie View A&M will look to rely on its experienced backcourt and interior defense, while Southern aims to capitalize on its physical frontcourt and balanced scoring attack.

Tipoff for the 2026 SWAC Championship Game is set for 7:30 p.m. EST, with the conference title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament on the line.