SAN ANTONIO — UTSA will host Prairie View A&M at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19 in its regular-season home opener at the Convocation Center. The contest will mark the regular season home debut for first-year head coach Steve Henson and his 2016-17 squad.
The Roadrunners (0-3) are coming off a three-game road trip to open the season after a 91-89 exhibition victory over Arkansas Tech in its only appearance at the Convocation Center thus far. UTSA went down to the wire in its season-opening 69-66 loss at defending Mountain West Conference Champion Fresno State (Nov. 11) before narrow defeats at Oregon State (Nov. 13) and Illinois-Chicago (Nov. 16).
UTSA will come into Saturday's contest atop Conference USA and ranked 28th in the nation with 130 rebounds (43.3 rpg), while its 18.3 offensive rebounds rank 10th in Division I. Sophomore Nick Allen and freshman Byron Frohnen have led the effort on the glass as both are averaging 7.7 rpg and junior Jeff Beverly is not far behind with 6.3 rpg. The team's 55 offensive rebounds have been a key early in the season and have led to 63 second-chance points (21.0 ppg).
Meanwhile, the Panthers (1-2) are coming off a 110-72 setback at No. 17 St. Mary's (Calif.) on Wednesday. Prairie View A&M, which is led by first-year head coach Byron Smith, was picked to finish sixth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference this season. The team, which is averaging 71.3 points per contest, is led by guards Daquan Cook (14.3 ppg) and L.J. Westbrook (13.3 ppg/4.0 rpg). However, opponents are averaging 88.7 ppg and have shot 49.4 percent against the Panthers.
UTSA leads the all-time series against Prairie View A&M, 4-1, and this will be the first meeting between the teams since 1986. The Roadrunners have won all three previous matchups in the Convocation Center.
Saturday's game can be heard live in the San Antonio area on The Bull 92.5/93.3 FM beginning with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m. Jay Howard will have the call.
Click here complete game notes.
