- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Prairie View Today
By the People, for the People
Florida Dominates Prairie View A&M in March Madness Blowout
Top-seeded Gators cruise to 40-point victory over 16-seed Panthers in NCAA Tournament opener
Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:12am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The Florida Gators, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, easily defeated the Prairie View A&M Panthers 92-52 in their first-round matchup on Friday, March 20th. The Gators jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, showcasing their superior talent and depth against the overmatched Panthers.
Why it matters
Florida's decisive victory over Prairie View A&M was expected, as the Gators were heavily favored entering the game. However, the lopsided nature of the win underscores the significant gap in talent and resources between the top programs in college basketball and the smaller, less-heralded schools that make up the tournament's lower seeds.
The details
The Gators were led by their star players, who dominated the game from start to finish. Florida shot an impressive 55% from the field and outrebounded Prairie View A&M 42-28. The Panthers struggled to find any offensive rhythm, shooting just 35% and committing 16 turnovers.
- The game was played on Friday, March 20th, 2026.
- Florida led Prairie View A&M 48-22 at halftime.
The players
Florida Gators
The No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, the Florida Gators are one of the premier programs in college basketball.
Prairie View A&M Panthers
The Prairie View A&M Panthers are a 16-seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, representing a smaller, less-resourced program than their first-round opponent, the Florida Gators.
What they’re saying
“We knew coming in that we had a significant talent advantage, but I'm proud of the way our guys came out and executed the game plan from the opening tip.”
— Billy Donovan, Head Coach, Florida Gators
“They're just a better team than us, plain and simple. We fought hard, but they were too much for us to handle today.”
— Byron Smith, Head Coach, Prairie View A&M Panthers
What’s next
The Florida Gators will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face the winner of the matchup between 8-seed Creighton and 9-seed Memphis.
The takeaway
Florida's dominant victory over Prairie View A&M serves as a reminder of the stark differences in resources and talent between the top programs in college basketball and the smaller, less-heralded schools that make up the lower seeds of the NCAA Tournament.
