Prairie View A&M Men's Basketball Seeks 2-0 Start At Baylor

TV: FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST ALTERNATE

RADIO: PVAMU SPORTS NETWORK


PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The Prairie View A&M men's basketball team will look to begin the season with back-to-back wins when it plays at Baylor Monday at 7 p.m.

The Panther Sports Network radio broadcast begins at 6:45 p.m. online at pvpanthers.com/baylor. The game will also be televised on the Fox Sports Southwest Alternate Channel.

PVAMU opened the season with four players in double figures in a convincing 81-64 win Friday night at Santa Clara. Gary Blackston scored a game-high 30 points to lead four Panthers in double figures while also adding eight rebounds. Gerard Andrus scored 14 points and had seven rebounds, and Taishaun Johnson also scored 14 points and had four rebounds and six assists. Darius Williams added 10 points off the bench as PVAMU shot 53 percent from the field (31-58) and committed only nine turnovers while recording nine steals and 14 assists.

The Prairie View A&M defense was impressive in the season-opening win on the road, limiting Santa Clara to 37 percent shooting (21-57) and forced 20 turnovers.

"I thought it was a team effort," said PVAMU head coach Byron Smith. "Our guys had an unbelievable practice Thursday night, one of the best practices I've ever been associated with in terms of it being efficient, the effort, the energy, and the focus. That was great indication right there prior to the game. We played as a unit. We really shared the ball well (14 assists), and we helped and covered for each other defensively. It was all out effort and a great 40 minutes of basketball for us."

Baylor (1-1) will play its third straight SWAC opponent to begin the season. The Bears lost to Texas Southern Tuesday (72-69) before bouncing back to beat Southern Saturday night (80-53). Newcomer Devonte Bandoo (25 points) led three BU players in double figures as the Bears pulled away from Southern 49-26 in the second half.

"They have a very experienced coaching staff," said Smith of Baylor Head Coach Scott Drew, now in his 16th season. They have some talented returning players. That conference (Big 12) is strong, the aura of being in that environment (Ferrell Center) against a real Power 5 opponent will be tough. They play a tough 2-3 zone, have great length, and tremendous athleticism. They are a team that will continue to get better as the season goes on."

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS