FACTS & STATS: Thompson-Boling Arena (24,535) -- Knoxville, Tennessee. Television: None. Home Record: Prairie View 1-0, Tennessee 2-0. Away Record: Prairie View 0-1, Tennessee 0-0. Neutral Record: Prairie View 0-0, Tennessee 0-0. Conference Record: Prairie View 0-0, Tennessee 0-0. Series Record: First- ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: The seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers put their 18-game home winning streak on the line tonight, as they host the Prairie View A&M Panthers as part of the Legends Classic. The Vols, who are in the midst a four-game homestand, kicked off play in this 11-team tournament with a convincing 101-44 triumph over Division II Arkansas-Monticello on Wednesday. It was obviously an easy win for Tennessee, which opened its season with an 80-63 victory over Temple a week ago. With the pair of victories, the Vols have now won 18 straight home games and they also improved to a perfect 17-0 against non- conference opponents at Thompson-Boling Arena under head coach Bruce Pearl. As for Prairie View, it also enters the contest on a high note, scoring an 88-59 victory over Division III Schreiner on Wednesday. It was a nice rebound for the Panthers, who were pounded by Oklahoma State, 104-58, in their season- opener a week ago. Tonight's game marks the first-ever meeting between Prairie View and Tennessee on the hardwood.

Dorian McDaniel poured in 24 points to pace the Panthers in an 88-59 win over Schreiner on Wednesday. McDaniel, who was held to just seven points in the team's opener, made 10-of-13 shots from the floor and 3-of-5 from long range. Brian Ezeh also turned in a noteworthy performance, as he logged 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. It was quite an all-around effort by Ezeh, who scored 12 points to lead the team in the opener. Rodney Meadows and Derek Johnson rounded out the double-figure scorers with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Prairie View shot a solid 57.0 percent from the field in the win. It was obviously a much better performance from the Panthers following a 36-turnover outing in the opener against Oklahoma State.

Tennessee shot a blistering 60.0 percent from the field and it held Arkansas- Monticello to just a 25.0 percent shooting effort, as it cruised to the victory on Wednesday. Iowa transfer Tyler Smith led the way with 15 points and that was a nice improvement from his season-opening nine-point effort against Temple. JaJuan Smith, who led the team with 15 points in the opener, added 14 points and four assists, while Wayne Chism contributed 13 points and seven boards. It was the second straight double-digit performance by Chism, who notched 11 points and six rebounds in the team's opener. Ramar Smith tallied 14 points against Temple and he followed that effort up with a 12-point and five-assist showing against Arkansas-Monticello. Chris Lofton, the team's leading scorer (20.8 ppg from) a year ago, has yet to get going though, scoring just 15 points through the first two games.

Tennessee is clearly the pick here and it should have little trouble routing a much less talented Panthers club tonight.

Predicted Outcome

Tennessee 110, Prairie View A&M 50