BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Once again, the Prairie View A&M Panthers put together a fast start but struggled down the stretch as they dropped a 76-70 decision to UAB on Tuesday night at Bartow Arena in the second leg of the South Padre Invitational.

Prairie View A&M stormed out to a 7-0 advantage slightly more than two minutes into the contest before UAB scored its first basket of the night at the 17:50 mark.  UAB, a member of Conference USA, drew to within five points nearly three minutes later but Prairie View extended its lead to 15-4 following a jumper from junior post Jules Montgomery.  The Panthers remained comfortably ahead over the next few minutes but UAB clawed back into the contest as they went on a 10-2 run to draw within 26-24 with 5:29 remaining.  After a 30-second timeout, the Panthers regrouped and pushed its lead back to six points en route to a 38-33 halftime advantage.

“I didn't want us to go out there and be satisfied because we were winning at the half,” said head coach Byron Rimm II.  “I wanted them to be mad at the world and play even harder.”

The tide began to turn in the second half as the Panthers were whistled for two early technical fouls which allowed UAB to claim its first lead (39-38) of the night at the 18:50 mark.  Prairie View failed to recover from that point as they were held scoreless until the 13:24 mark of the second stanza as Carl Blair recorded a layup to draw the team within six points at 46-40.

PV closed to within 49-44 with 10:13 on the clock but UAB wouldn't allow them to draw any closer as the deficit increased to double digits (55-44) with 7:50 left.  However, the Panthers fought back as Ryan Gesiakowski scored three of his team's next five points to bring PV within six at 55-49.  Once again though, UAPB countered PV's run and went up by double digits on two occasions over the next two minutes but the Panthers refused to go away as Blair, Gesiakowski and Demondre Chapman keyed a 10-4 run which closed PV's gap to 64-59 with 2:21 left in regulation.

Forced to stop the clock, the Panthers had to send UAB to the free throw line from that point.  Unfortunately, UAB remained red hot from the charity stripe as they went 12-of-16 over the final 1:47 to seal the win.

Gesiakowski led PV with 18 points and seven rebounds while Blair scored 15 points with seven rebounds.  Jules Montgomery chipped in with nine points and seven rebounds.

“I'm disappointed as we've turned a point in this program to where we should beat these high and mid-major teams,” said Rimm.  “We have great players in this program and one of the best point guards out there and some great bigs – but I'm just disappointed.”

The Panthers return to Texas as the South Padre Invitational shifts to South Padre Island on Friday as they'll meet Navy for the first time ever at 2:30 p.m.

“We can't turn the ball over and we have to play together,” said Rimm.  “We can't turn the ball over in crunch time, not panic and cut harder to the basket.”