Prairie View A&M @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 19, 2013 ) Prairie View A&M 65, Texas A&M 75

No. 9 Texas A&M will try to start a new winning streak when it hosts Prairie View A&M on Saturday. The Aggies had their 7-0 start spoiled Tuesday with a neutral-site loss to Arizona.

Junior center Tyler Davis recorded his second double-double of the season in the loss and was a big presence inside for the Aggies. Texas A&M has outscored seven of its opponents in the paint and recorded a 42-point advantage in its last two games. The Panthers, who do not play at home until Dec. 29, are playing in the Central Time Zone for the first time this season. Their first eight games took place west of Texas in the Mountain, Pacific and Hawaiian Time Zones.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network Plus

ABOUT PRAIRIE VIEW A&M (2-6): Gary Blackston scored a season-high 27 points in the loss to Hawaii and leads the Panthers with 17.8 and 6.5 rebounds. Zachary Hamilton adds 17.5 points and Dennis Jones chips in 10.5 for a squad that has averaged 61 during its three-game losing streak. Blackston and Jones each have recorded 17 steals on the season as the Panthers force 16.6 turnovers.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (7-1): Junior forward DJ Hogg leads the balanced Aggies with 15.9 points and 7.4 rebounds while the 6-10 Davis averages 14.5 and 7.3. Sophomore forward Robert Williams (eight points, team-best 9.5 rebounds) and senior forward Tonny Trocha-Morelos (eight, 4.5) - who are both 6-10 - contribute to the Aggies' post dominance. Guard Duane Wilson leads the Aggies with 4.5 assists to go along with 11.3 points.

TIP-INS

1. Williams (15 blocks in six games) has blocked a shot in a nation-leading consecutive 37 games.

2. Prairie View A&M is ranked 350th out of 351 Division I teams with 8.1 assists per contest.

3. Davis is ranked second in the SEC and 19th nationally with a 66.2 percent shooting clip.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 88, Prairie View A&M 55