GULF COAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

Philander Smith looks to home for advantage

— Philander Smith hopes home surroundings help lead the way to a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference title.

The Panthers (21-8, 11-3) host the tournament, which will be played at Mims Gymnasium on the Philander Smith campus and at Barton Coliseum - both in Little Rock - today through Sunday.

Philander Smith opens against Fisk College (Tenn.) at 7:30 p.m. today at Barton. The winner meets either Edward Waters (Fla.) or Tougaloo (Miss.) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, also at Barton.

The Panthers defeated Fisk 109-86 on Saturday to earn a share of the conference championship with Xavier (La.).

“It’s always tough to come back and play a team after a short turnaround,” Philander Smith men’s Coach Sam Weaver said. “We were able to get the lead early on, and that helped.”

The Panthers also defeated Fisk 114-108 in double overtime on Jan. 26.

Philalder Smith is led by Alvin Nance, a 6-5 senior forward from Marion, who averages 21.4 points per game. Clayton Busby, a 6-7 senior guard from Beaumont, Texas, averages 16.4 points per game. Juvon Demerson, a 6-10 junior center, averages 15.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and D’Alvin Brown, a 5-9 junior guard, averages 12.2 points per game.

“We’re a team that has to shoot really well to win, and we have four guys who average in double figures,” Weaver said. “We’re going to have to rebound well.”

For the season, the Panthers have been outrebounded, on average, 37.2-35.9 per game.

Philander Smith’s women (15-15, 5-9) carry a four-game winning streak into today’s noon game against Tougaloo (17-10, 7-7) at Mims Gymnasium.

The Lady Panthers lost both regular-season meetings, 77-75 on Jan. 7 at home and 81-68 on the road on Feb. 2.

The winner meets Xavier or Fisk at 5 p.m. Friday atBarton.

“We’re coming in on a four-game winning streak and playing well at the right time,” Philander Smith women’s Coach Brandon Greenwood said.

The Lady Panthers are led by Jerricka Scott, a 5-9 sophomore forward from Star City, who averages 15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Kanesha Merritt, a 5-5 junior guard from Ethel, Miss., averages 10.5 points.

“This is a big deal for us,” Weaver said. “When we bid on the tournament, we wanted to bring a college atmosphere to it and we’re glad we get to play it at Barton. I’m an old AIC [Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference] guy and I remember playing in district tournaments [at Barton] when I was with Henderson, and I remember when you had high-school all-star games at Barton. This is a pretty exciting time for us.”At a glance GULF COAST ATHLETIC

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT MEN TODAY’S GAMES GAME 1 x-Talladega (Ala.) (17-13) vs. Southern (New Orleans) (13-8), 2:30 p.m.

GAME 2 Xavier (La.) (21-8) vs. Dillard (La.) (3-20), 2:30 p.m.

GAME 3 x-Edward Waters (Fla.) (14-13) vs. Tougaloo (Miss.), 7:30 p.m.

GAME 4 Philander Smith (21-8) vs. Fisk (Tenn.) (19-9), 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY’S GAMES GAME 5 Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 2:30 p.m.

GAME 6 Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY’S GAME Championship game, 4:30 p.m.

WOMEN TODAY’S GAMES GAME 1 x-Tougaloo (Miss.) (17-10) vs. Philander Smith (15-15), noon GAME 2 Xavier (La.) (24-4) vs. Fisk (Tenn.) (8-20), noon GAME 3 x-Southern (New Orleans) (18-4) vs. Dillard (La.) (6-21), 5 p.m.

GAME 4 Talladega (Ala.) (19-9) vs. Edward Waters (Fla.) (10-19), 5 p.m.

FRIDAY’S GAMES GAME 5 Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, noon GAME 6 Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 5 p.m.

SATURDAY’S GAME Championship game, 2 p.m.

x-games at Philander Smith College; other games at Barton Coliseum

Sports, Pages 23 on 02/28/2013

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