Gameday: Prairie View A&M

Hawaii’s seven-game homestand through the month of December begins now, against Prairie View A&M of the SWAC.

Drew Buggs is back in the starting lineup after his season-high 14-point game in Saturday’s 20-point loss at Utah. Will the season trend — the point guard coming off the bench outplaying the starter — endure tonight? Brocke Stepteau has been very steady in almost any situation.

UH (4-2) actually has a pretty strong RPI — it was 120 as of the start of the week, and the Big West was rated pretty strong at a surprising 10th.

Jack Purchase hit a 3 against the Utes, but hardly busted out of his shooting slump. Look for that to happen today against the Panthers as he comes off the bench. He’s a strong shooter. Even he might have forgotten that while he was chucking bricks the last few games, but it’s true.

Look for PVA&M (2-5) to go to the duo of Zachary Hamilton and Gary Blackston to stay in the neighborhood. The Panthers don’t shoot very efficiently, but are adept at forcing turnovers.

This is UH’s 22nd all-time game against current members of the SWAC. They are 21-0 in the previous 22, including a season-opening win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.