BOX SCORE

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Prairie View A&M overcame a five-point deficit with more then three minutes remaining as they closed out the contest on a 19-9 run in a 64-57 road win over Alabama State on Saturday evening in the ASU Acadome.

The Panthers (9-12, 5-3 SWAC) got off to a slow start to begin the game as ASU led for nearly the entire half. Despite being down for most of the half, the Panthers remained close thanks to a solid defensive effort as they outrebounded the Hornets in addition to forcing eight turnovers. Down 20-17 with 1:06 remaining, the Panthers drew to within one as Jourdan DeMuynck finger rolled in a long pass from freshman guard Montrael Scott. Three seconds later, Jules Montgomery put the Panthers up for the first time as he scored off a putback. ASU's Ryan Watkins missed a three-pointer as the half closed en route to a 21-20 halftime advantage in favor of Prairie View A&M.

Prairie View A&M scored the first nine points of the second stanza as the lead grew to 30-20 with 17:36 remaining. However, Alabama State responded with a 16-4 run of its own as they reclaimed a 36-34 advantage at the 10:48 mark. From that point, both teams traded leads over the next four minutes as the Panthers led 40-38 after Montgomery's jumper from the left side. With 5:53 left on the clock, ASU's Phillip Crawford hit two free throws to tie the game and a PV turnover led to an easy Hornet basket and a 42-40 deficit in a matter of seconds.

The deficit grew to as much as five (48-43) over the next few minutes before a DeMuynck jumper ended the drought as PV trailed 48-43 with 3:25 on the clock. The Panthers took a quick 30-second timeout following the basket which paid off dearly as ASU committed a costly turnover on the following possession.

Over the next three possessions, junior forward Marcellus Jackson took over the game as the Los Angeles native scored six consecutive points for a 51-48 lead. The Hornets committed their fourth turnover in a row after Jackson's basket and DeMuynck made them pay as his driving layup led to a 53-48 lead with 1:35 left on the clock. Alabama State missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession and once again, Jackson was there to pick up the pieces as his basket off an assist from Ryan Gesiakowski led to a seven-point margin at 55-48 with 1:05 left.

From that point, the Panthers held ground at the free throw line as they nailed 9-of-12 free throws over the final minute to seal the game and head coach Byron Rimm's third win at Alabama State since 2007.

Louis Munks led the Panthers with 15 points while DeMuynck and Jackson followed with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Montgomery led the Panthers on the boards with 12 rebounds.

The trip concludes in Huntsville, Ala. on Monday as the Panthers will face Alabama A&M at 7:30 p.m.