After wrapping up their first SWAC championship since 2019, Prairie View has its sights set on a date in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers (18-17) will play Patriot League champion Lehigh (18-16) on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. ET in Dayton, Ohio.
Prairie View is in the tournament after a remarkable run of winning four games in five days to capture the automatic bid. They are led by SWAC Tournament MVP Dontae Horne, who scored 96 points and carried the Panthers’ offense throughout.
“I just love basketball,” Horne said after the Panthers SWAC championship game victory. “I just wanted to go out and prove that I’m like that.”
The win was also significant for head coach Bryon Smith, who has led Prairie View to the NCAA Tournament for the second time during his tenure.
What to know about Lehigh
Lehigh is making its sixth overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament and third under coach Brett Reed. The Mountain Hawks finished second in the Patriot League. They punched their ticket with a 74-70 win over fourth-seeded Boston University.
First Four Players to watch
Prairie View A&M
-
Dontae Horne
SWAC Tournament MVP and focal point of the offense, averaging 20.2 points per game while also leading Prairie View in steals as an attacking two-way guard. He posted 30 and 25 points in the SWAC quarterfinal and semifinal wins and repeatedly closed games with late baskets, including back-to-back layups to seal the title against Southern. -
Tai’Reon Joseph
Graduate scoring guard who averaged 18.2 points during the season, giving Prairie View a second high-usage creator who can score at all three levels. His presence prevents defenses from loading completely onto Horne and keeps the floor spaced in late-clock situations. -
Cory Wells
Versatile wing averaging 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, functioning as Prairie View’s top rebounder and a key floor-stretcher. He has had multiple big-game down the stretch and in postseason play, including 15 crucial points in the SWAC title game. -
Lance Williams
Graduate point guard who averages 10.1 points and 3.3 assists, running the offense and providing stability in late-game situations. He scored 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting with five assists in the SWAC championship win over Southern, underscoring his importance as a primary decision-maker.
Lehigh
-
Nasir Whitlock
High-volume scoring guard and clear centerpiece for Lehigh, averaging 21.0 points and 3.4 assists while tying for the Division I lead with eight 30-point games. He averaged 23.0 points during the Patriot League Tournament and earned Tournament MVP honors, with multiple big second halves driving the Mountain Hawks’ six-game win streak.
Photo: Lehigh Athletics -
Hank Alvey
Interior anchor at 15.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, providing a reliable post scoring option and rim protection. In the Patriot League title game against Boston University, he logged 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two blocks, highlighting how his passing and defense complement his low-post scoring. -
Joshua Ingram
A two-way perimeter piece who averages 10.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, filling gaps as a secondary ballhandler plus defender. He contributed 16 points and four steals in a late-season win highlighted by Whitlock’s 30 points, exemplifying his role as the connective guard next to Lehigh’s star.
Tale of the tape
Prairie View
Record: 18-17 overall, 9-9 in the SWAC
Most recent tournament appearance: 2019
RPI: 308
NET ranking: 300
Best win: Bethune-Cookman
Worst loss: Grambling State
Lehigh
Record: 18-16 overall, 11-7 in the Patriot League
Most recent tournament appearance: 2012
RPI: 294
NET ranking: 275
Best win: Colgate
Worst loss: Holy Cross
Point spread
Prairie View A&M (+1.5) vs Lehigh (FanDuel)
