ATLANTA, Ga. — The Prairie View A&M men's basketball team opens play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Tuesday afternoon as the Panthers face Alcorn State Braves men's basketball at Gateway Center Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Prairie View A&M enters the contest looking to carry momentum into postseason play after strong performances against the Braves earlier this season. The Panthers have relied heavily on their backcourt leadership and defensive intensity heading into the tournament.
Last Time Out vs. Alcorn State
In the most recent meeting between the two programs, Joey Madimba and Dontae Horne combined to score 44 points — accounting for 61.1 percent of Prairie View A&M's total — in a commanding 72-51 victory over Alcorn State during Senior Night at home.
Madimba led the way with 28 points and two blocks, while Horne added 16 points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals, and three blocks. Lance Williams also reached double figures with 11 points and six rebounds.
Prairie View A&M displayed strong ball movement throughout the game, finishing with 16 assists on 29 made field goals, with Horne leading the team in assists.
The Panthers were equally impressive on the defensive end, holding Alcorn State to 30.9 percent shooting from the field while limiting the Braves to just five offensive rebounds and five second-chance points. Prairie View A&M controlled the glass with a 44-28 rebounding advantage and forced 14 turnovers.
After taking an early 14-10 lead, Prairie View A&M used an 8-0 run midway through the first half to extend its advantage to 22-10 following a basket by Madimba. The Panthers carried that momentum into halftime with a 36-22 lead, scoring 24 of their first-half points in the paint.
The Panthers continued to build on their lead in the second half, using a 9-0 run capped by a Horne layup to push the score to 53-31 with just under 11 minutes remaining. Prairie View A&M maintained control the rest of the way to secure the 21-point win.
Madimba, Horne, and Williams combined to score 76 percent of the Panthers' points, while Corey Dunning added a game-high 12 rebounds to anchor the effort on the boards.
Earlier Meeting
The first matchup between the teams this season came down to the final seconds, as Prairie View A&M fell 76-75 in Lorman on a buzzer-beating shot by Davian Williams.
Despite the loss, Horne delivered an outstanding performance with 32 points and three steals, while Cory Wells added 19 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Williams contributed 10 points and five assists as the Panthers totaled 15 assists in the contest.
Prairie View A&M rallied late after trailing 70-62, using an 8-0 run to tie the game at 70 with just over four minutes remaining. However, Alcorn State scored in the closing seconds to secure the narrow victory.
Tournament Outlook
With the regular season behind them, the Panthers now turn their focus to postseason play in Atlanta. Prairie View A&M will look to lean on its defensive pressure, rebounding, and balanced scoring as it aims to advance in the SWAC Tournament.
Tipoff between Prairie View A&M and Alcorn State is set for 2 p.m. inside Gateway Center Arena. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN+ and follow along with live statistics.
