• 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.*