PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – With the kickoff less than seven months away, Prairie View A&M University has announced its 2010 football schedule. The schedule, which marks the team’s first 11-game slate since 2005, is highlighted by five games in the state of Texas, two state fair appearances and the first-ever match-up versus Football Bowl Subdivision and Conference USA member Southern Mississippi.

“I’m definitely pleased we have 11 ballgames as this will be a competitive schedule with a wide variety of teams from the FBS, FCS and Division II ranks,” said head coach Henry Frazier III.

Prairie View A&M opens the 2010 campaign in Houston on Saturday, Sept. 4 versus SWAC rival Texas Southern in the 26th edition of the Labor Day Classic at a site to be determined. The Panthers have defeated their in-state foes in five of the past six meetings.

Following the Labor Day Classic, Prairie View travels to the state of Mississippi in the first of three trips next season for a match-up at Southern Mississippi of Conference USA on Sept. 11 in Hattiesburg, Miss. This will mark the second consecutive season the Panthers will face a FBS member after battling New Mexico State of the Western Athletic Conference last year.

Prairie View’s home opener at Blackshear Field is set for Sept. 18 when the Panthers host Alabama State.

The Panthers hit the road for five of their next six games beginning with the annual State Fair Classic contest against Grambling State on Sept. 25 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Prairie View made history last season with their first win over the Tigers since 1986 and will attempt to win two straight over the G-men for the first time since the 1963 and 1964 campaigns.

After the State Fair Classic, Prairie View returns to the state of Mississippi for the second time to battle Mississippi Valley State on Oct. 2 in Itta Bena, Miss. followed by a battle against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Pine Bluff, Ark. on Oct. 9.

Lincoln University returns to the schedule for the first time since the 2004 campaign as the Panthers will host the Blue Tigers for homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 16 at Blackshear Field.

Following homecoming, the Panthers travel to Shreveport, La. and Independence Stadium to square off against Southern University on Oct. 23. The match-up marks the opening of the State Fair of Louisiana and a two-year agreement by Prairie View, the State Fair of Louisiana and the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority for a game to be played in the city.

“I’m okay with playing in Shreveport as it opens up a different market for our players, fans and alumni,” said Frazier. “This is a great business move on our athletic director’s part and I’m totally behind it as we get to play in a prestigious stadium.”

Jackson State makes an appearance on the schedule for the first time since 2007 as Prairie View travels to Mississippi for the third and final time to face the Tigers on Oct. 30 in Jackson’s Memorial Stadium.

“It’s (on traveling to Mississippi three times) part of the schedule but the rides aren’t that long and we’re looking forward to going down there and try to bring home a victory,” stated Frazier.

After a bye weekend, the Panthers close out their home schedule on Nov. 13 with a match-up against Alcorn State at Blackshear Field. Prairie View’s regular season comes to a close on Nov. 20 as they travel to Huntsville, Ala. to meet Alabama A&M in a rematch of the 2009 SWAC Championship Game.

Prairie View A&M captured the 2009 SWAC Championship after posting a 9-1 record. The Panthers return an experienced team on both sides of the ball as they attempt a championship repeat for the 2010 campaign.

“On paper we look strong but we also understand that the bullseye will be on our back,” said Frazier. “Our whole focus this offseason is unity and making sure we work as hard as we can and being happy for our teammate’s success. We’re pleased with what we have returning and excited about our last few recruiting classes so I would like to think we’re going to have a very competitive football team.”

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION STADIUM TIME
Sept. 4 *vs. Texas Southern Houston, Texas TBA TBA

2010 Labor Day Classic
Sept. 11 at Southern Miss. Hattiesburg, Miss. Roberts 6 p.m.
Sept. 18 *ALABAMA STATE PRAIRIE VIEW Blackshear TBA
Sept. 25 *vs. Grambling State Dallas, Texas Cotton Bowl 6 p.m.
2010 State Fair Classic
Oct. 2 *at Mississippi Valley Itta Bena, Miss. Rice-Totten TBA
Oct. 9 *at Arkansas-PB Pine Bluff, Ark. Golden Lion TBA
Oct. 16 LINCOLN PRAIRIE VIEW Blackshear TBA
Homecoming
Oct. 23 *Southern Shreveport, La. Independence TBA
Oct. 30 *at Jackson State Jackson, Miss. Memorial TBA
Nov. 13 *Alcorn State PRAIRIE VIEW Blackshear TBA
Nov. 20 *Alabama A&M Huntsville, Ala. Lewis Crews TBA

*Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) games

Times listed are local times in host cities. For more information call (936) 261-9100/9106.

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Despite a game high 32 point effort from SWAC Player of the Year Garrison Johnson the Jackson State Tigers fell 81-67 to the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the opening round of the National Invitational Tournament Tuesday night at the Humphrey Coliseum.

Johnson scored a career high 32 points in the final game of his collegiate career. Tyrone Hanson added 11. De’Suan Dixon pulled down 11 rebounds.

Jarvis Varnado led MSU with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Dee Bost added 18 points and Kodi Augustus scored 13 points.

The Tigers were able to hang with the No. 1 seeded Bulldogs for most of the game, but MSU took control of the game after a JSU flagrant foul.

The Tigers scored the first two points of the game on a De’Suan Dixon basket. JSU stayed within five points of MSU until the 3:04 mark in the first half. MSU took a 32-23 lead into halftime. JSU shot 36 percent from the field in the first half and MSU shot 37 percent.

The Bulldogs extended its lead to 12 points at the 18-16 mark in the second half. JSU went on a 10-3 run to cut the lead down to five points at the 14:53 mark. But, after Phillip Williams got a flagrant foul and a technical foul, Williams was ejected from the game and the momentum shifted MSU’s way.

For the game JSU out rebounded MSU 38-35, but the Tigers committed 16 turnovers.

“I have to say congratulations to Mississippi State and coach Rick Stansbury,” said JSU head coach Tevester Anderson. “Mississippi State should be in the NCAA Tournament. They have an excellent team and an excellent chance to win the NIT.

“We have to build off this. This team did an outstanding job and I am proud of these young men.”

DAYTON, OH – Allen Smith scored 14 points and Tyree Glass added 10 as the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Winthrop 61-44 in the 2010 NCAA Tournament Opening Round Game. The Golden Lions advance to play Duke Friday at 6:25 p.m. CT in Jacksonville, FL.

The win by the Golden Lions was the first by a SWAC team in the NCAA Basketball Tournament since Southern, led by head coach Ben Jobe, defeated Georgia Tech 93-78 in 1993. It also comes on the 30-year anniversary of the first SWAC win in the NCAA Tournament as 2010 College Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Head Coach Davey Whitney led Alcorn State to an 80-62 win over South Alabama in 1980.

Add UAPB head coach George Ivory to the list of SWAC coaches with NCAA Tournament victories as the Golden Lions got a win in their first NCAA game. Leading 24-23 at halftime, UAPB shot 52.6 percent in the second half in outscoring Winthrop 37-21 in the final 20 minutes.

University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff held its third straight opponent under 46 points. Winthrop scored just 21 points in the second half on nine-of-29 shooting after halftime.

Tavaris Washington scored eight points with a game-high 13 rebounds and five assists for the Golden Lions, who improved to 18-15 on the year, their first overall winning season since joining the SWAC in 1997-98.

Now the Golden Lions advance to play Duke, a familiar opponent to SWAC teams in the NCAA Tournament. This will be the fifth time a Conference team has played the Blue Devils in the NCAAs and third since 2004 (Alabama State in ’04, Southern in ’06).

The first time the SWAC went head-to-head with Duke in the NCAA Tournament was in 1986 when Ivory led his Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils to the NCAA Tournament. Ivory scored 14 points in the 85-78 loss. Friday Ivory again faces the Dukies, this time as head coach.

SWAC wins in the NCAA Tournament

1980 Alcorn St. defeated South Alabama 80-62
1983 Alcorn St. defeated Xavier 81-75
1984 Alcorn St. defeated Houston Baptist 79-60
1993 Southern defeated Georgia Tech 93-78
2010 Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Winthrop 61-44

The NCAA wants to call this game an opening round game.  Let’s be real and call it what it really is, The Play-In Game.  For the first time since a SWAC school has participated in this game, a SWAC school has come out victorious. The SWAC has had a team in this game 5 out of the 10 years it has been going.

I want to say congrats to the Golden Lions of Arkansas-Pine Bluff for their win in in the Play-In Game and their very first trip into the NCAA D1A Tournament.

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M Lady Panther basketball team will travel north to face the University of Kansas on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. in the first round of the Postseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).

Wednesday’s game, which takes place at Allen Fieldhouse, marks the first-ever meeting between both schools and the 12th all-time for the Jayhawks against a school from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). In addition, this will mark the third meeting for Prairie View A&M against a team from the Big 12 Conference this season and the second consecutive year the Lady Panthers will battle a Big 12 member in the postseason as they faced Oklahoma in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

Kansas enters with a 15-15 overall record and a 5-11 Big 12 mark while Prairie View A&M complied a 15-13 overall and 12-6 SWAC record. The winner of Wednesday’s contest will face either Creighton or Stephen F. Austin next week.

This marks the fourth consecutive year head coach Cynthia Cooper-Dyke and the Lady Panthers will participate in postseason play and the second Postseason WNIT appearance in school history for the Lady Panthers as they last participated in the event against Texas State in 2008. The Lady Panthers earned NCAA Tournament bids in 2007 and 2009

DEVILETTES WIN SECOND GAME IN A ROW

Errors Costly for Southeastern

ITTA BENA, Miss. — The Miss. Valley State Devilettes won their second consecutive game as they downed Southeastern Louisiana 2-1 Tuesday afternoon at the MVSU Softball Complex.

Southeastern Louisiana pitchers Katelyn Thomason and freshman Kati Morse combined for a two-hitter, but two errors led to two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth. MVSU pitcher Lisa Jansed evened her season record at 5-5 as she worked seven innings of three-hit softball.

Southeastern fell to 5-12 overall with the loss. Mississippi Valley State improved to 7-12 on the year.

Mississippi Valley mounted the game’s first threat in the bottom of the second inning. Thomason (3-4) walked Ta’Niya Wllace and Ashley Lawrence to put runners on first and second with two outs. However, the Spring, Texas native struck out Shanika Randle to keep the game scoreless.

After being held hitless through the first three innings, Southeastern got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman Michelle Duhe led off the inning with a single and advanced to third when a one-out grounder off the bat of junior Katie Duhe went through the legs of Lawrence to put runners at second at third. Sophomore Meghan Gomez then flared a single into left field that plated the younger Duhe and gave Southeastern a 1-0 lead.

The Lady Lions mounted a threat in the top of the fifth inning. MVSU starter Lisa Jansen (5-5) hit senior Chelsea Takacs with one out and Michelle Duhe’s second hit of the game put runners at second and third with two outs. However, Jansen forced Thomason to pop out to end the inning.

Sloppy fielding allowed MVSU to retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tiana Parks drew a walk and Lawrence laid down a perfect bunt. Gomez’s throw to first was off line, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Shanika Randle then hit a pop-up to left, but Michelle Duhe dropped it, allowing pinch runner Rachelle Harris to score and knot the score at 1.

Lady Lion freshman Kati Morse then came on relief of Thomason. After retiring the first batter she faced, Morse uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Lawrence to score the go-ahead run. From there, Jansen sat Southeastern down in order in the final two innings to preserve the victory.

The Devilettes will look to continue their good fortune as they participate in the 2010 SWAC Softball Round-Up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi this weekend.

WOMEN

Gabrielle Rosigi, Texas Southern
Katrich Williams, Alabama A&M
Shanice Merritt, Alabama State
Hannah Kador, Southern
Ashley Augerson, Southern

MVP: Hannah Kador, Southern

MEN
Garrison Johnson, Jackson State
Tramayne Moorer, Alabama State
Junior Treasure, Texas Southern
Deandre Hall, Texas Southern
Allen Smith, Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

MVP: Allen Smith, UAPB

Tavaris Washington 14 points and tournament MVP Allen Smith added 11 as the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff defeated Texas Southern 50-36 in the Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament Men’s Championship.

#2 seed UAPB (17-15) qualifies for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Texas Southern, the #5 seed, finished 17-16.

The lead changed hands seven times early with one tie, but the Golden Lions took the lead for good at the 5:53 mark on a three-pointer by George Davis and never trailed again. UAPB led 26-20 at halftime.

In the second half, Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff extended to a double-digit lead at 41-31 on a pair of free throws by Washington with 8:45 to play and maintained its double-digit lead the remainder of the game.

Deandre Hall and Junior Treasure led Texas Southern with 14 points each.

Ashley Augerson scored 19 points to lead three teammates in double figures as top-seeded Southern won the Farmers Insurance SWAC Tournament Women’s Title with a 60-47 victory over #7 seed Alabama State.

Southern (23-8) earns the Conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Women’s Tournament and will learn its opponent Monday evening. Upset-minded Alabama State, which knocked off the second and third seeds en route to the title game, ends its season 13-17.

With the score tied at 19-all late in the first half, Southern scored 17 consecutive points over an eight minute span to take a commanding 36-19 lead with 16:08 to play in the game. The Jaguars never led by less than 11 the rest of the way.

Hannah Kador, the women’s tournament MVP, scored 15 points and Tiffany Foster 10 for Southern.
Alabama State’s Tanika Jackson led all scorers with 22 points.

Travele Jones’ blocked shot as time expired preserved Texas Southern’s 60-57 victory over Grambling State in the men’s semifinal of the Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament.

Texas Southern (17-15) advances to the tournament final vs. #2 University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Grambling State, the #8 seed which upset top-seeded Jackson State Wednesday night, ends its season at 7-21.

Jones blocked Grambling’s Kevin Loyd’s three-point attempt on the right wing just after TSU’s Deandre Hall missed the front end of a one-and-one with eight seconds to play.

Texas Southern never trailed in the game and led by as many as 13 late in the first half before taking a 34-24 halftime lead. TSU extended its lead again to 13 at 39-26 with 17:48 remaining in the game.

However, Grambling State would not give in, cutting its deficit to two points twice and three points three times but never tied the game or took the lead.

Junior Treasure led Texas Southern with 21 points and Hall added 20 for the Tigers, who advance to the tournament final for the first time since 2003.

Donald Qualls led Grambling State with 14 points, while George Akpele added 10.

Hannah Kador scored a game-high 25 points and Ashley Augerson added 10 as #1 seed Southern advanced to the Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Championship Tournament final with a 67-55 victory over #5 Texas Southern.

Southern (22-8) advances to the tournament championship game for the second consecutive season and will face #7 seed Alabama State at 5 p.m. Saturday. Texas Southern ends its season 13-18.

The game featured eight lead changes and nine ties in a contest that was close for most of the contest. Tied at 38-38 all with 13:12 to play, Southern took the lead for good on a Kador three-pointer which triggered a 13-5 run that gave the Jaguars a 53-43 lead with 8:35 to play. Texas Southern never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Jasmine Cannon led Texas Southern with 17 points. Gabrielle Rosigi added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Nadosha Strickland 12 points for the Lady Tigers, which advanced to the second round of the conference tournament for the first time since 1993.

Terrance Calvin’s baseline jumper with one second to play gave #2 seed Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff a 46-44 victory over #3 seed Alabama State in a men’s semifinal of the Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament.

UAPB (16-15) advances to the SWAC Tournament final for the first time since 2006 where it will face the Texas Southern – Grambling State winner on Saturday night. Alabama State’s season ends at 16-15.

With the score tied at 44-all, UAPB’s Allen Smith stole the inbounds pass under his own basket with 22 seconds to play. The Golden Lions passed on using their final timeout and got the ball in the hands of Calvin, who drove the left side and floated a 10-footer jumper for the game winner.

Calvin led the Golden Lions with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Savalance Townsend came off the bench to score 11 points.

Alabama State was led by Tramayne Moorer’s game-high 23 points and nine rebounds.

Tanika Jackson and Shanice Merritt each scored 15 points as #7 seed Alabama State defeated #3 seed Alabama A&M 61-53 in a women’s semifinal of the Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament.

Alabama State (13-16) advances to Saturday’s championship game vs. the Southern-Texas Southern winner. Alabama State is the lowest seed to make the women’s final since #8 seed Mississippi Valley in 2004.

Alabama A&M’s season ends at 16-13.

The game featured 13 ties and 12 lead changes with neither team leading by double figures. A pair of free throws by Jackson with 5:56 to play gave Alabama State the lead for good at 48-47. The free throws were part of a 15-6 run to end the game and put Alabama State in the tournament championship game for the first time since 2006.

Katrich Williams scored a game-high 24 points to lead Alabama A&M.

• CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS THIS WEEKEND

Conference play begins for eight of the SWAC’s 10 teams this weekend as the quest to earn a berth in the conference tournament begins.

Southern begins defense of its title at home vs. Prairie View A&M. Last season, the Jaguars won four of six games vs. the Panthers.

Alcorn State, last season’s conference runners up, will open at home vs. Jackson State. J-State won four of six matchups between the teams in 2009.

Mississippi Valley State, the defending Eastern Division champs, will open at Alabama A&M. MVSU won three of the four games played between the teams last season.

The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff will open conference play at home in a Western division series vs. Texas Southern. The division rivals split their six contests last season.

THIS WEEK’S SWAC SCHEDULE

Friday, March 12

Jackson St. at Alcorn St., 6 p.m.*

Saturday, March 13

Miss. Valley St. at Alabama A&M (DH), Noon*
Alabama St. at Grambling St.(DH), 1 p.m.
Jackson St. at Alcorn St. (DH), Noon*
Prairie View A&M at Southern (DH), Noon*
Texas Southern at Univ. Ark.-Pine Bluff (DH), Noon*

Sunday, March 14

Miss. Valley St. at Alabama A&M, Noon
Prairie View A&M at Southern, 1 p.m.*
Texas Southern at Univ. Ark.-Pine Bluff, 1 p.m.*

Deandre Hall scored 19 points and Junior Treasure and David Burrell each added 11 as #5 Texas Southern defeated #4 Prairie View A&M 66-49 in a men’s quarterfinal game of the Farmers Insurance SWAC Basketball Tournament.

Texas Southern (16-15) will take on upset-minded #8 seed Grambling State at 8 p.m. Friday. Prairie View A&M’s season ends at 16-14.

Texas Southern led all but the first minute of the game and led 30-23 at halftime. The Tigers extended to a 52-32 lead on a tip-in by Timothy Price with 10:22 to play.

Tim Meadows added 10 points for Prairie View A&M