Philander Smith Falls to LeMoyne-Owen in Tight Season Opener

Memphis, Tenn. — October 25, 2025 — In a nail-biting season opener at Bruce Hall/Johnson Gymnasium, Philander Smith University came up just short against LeMoyne-Owen College, falling 68–65 in a contest that went down to the wire.

The energy was high from the opening tip as both teams traded baskets in a fast-paced first half. The Panthers leaned heavily on the scoring of standout guard Xavier Alexander, who poured in 10 points before the break and kept PSU within striking distance. The Magicians held a slim 34–33 advantage at halftime, setting up a thrilling finish.

The second half mirrored the first in physicality and intensity. Alexander continued to shine, attacking the basket and knocking down key three-pointers en route to a sensational 33-point performance to lead all scorers. Despite his effort, Philander Smith struggled to gain meaningful separation as LeMoyne-Owen answered with balanced scoring and disciplined ball movement.

The Magicians relied on Kyle Houston, who notched 14 points and showed confidence from beyond the arc, while Andre Walker II added 12 points and 6 assists to orchestrate the offense. Marial Malek made a major impact on the boards with 10 rebounds, matching PSU's Raymond Reece, who turned in another strong outing of his own — 14 points and 10 rebounds for the double-double.

Free throws and rebounding proved decisive in the tight matchup. LeMoyne-Owen capitalized at the stripe, shooting 77.8%, while Philander Smith converted only 59.3% of its attempts. The Magicians also held a slight 33–29 edge on the glass, earning second-chance opportunities that helped preserve their lead late.

The game's intensity spilled over at times, as both teams were assessed technical fouls, adding to the rivalry atmosphere inside the gym.

Despite the setback, the Panthers showed plenty of promise in their first outing of the season. With Alexander emerging as a commanding offensive presence and veteran contributors like Reece providing stability inside, Philander Smith appears poised to build on this competitive effort.