LUBBOCK, Texas - Prairie View A&M gave Texas Tech all it could handle with a solid defensive performance and a season-high scoring output from
Montrael Scott, but fell victim to the referee's whistle and a late Red Raider run in a 79-51 loss at United Supermarkets Arena on Sunday.
Playing before a nationally televised audience, Prairie View A&M began the game on a solid note as they led 17-12 after
Montrael Scott's three-pointer with 9:53 remaining. An 8-0 Texas Tech run saw the lead move back to the Red Raiders two minutes later but the Panthers recovered and stayed right with their Big 12 opponents as they claimed the lead on five additional occassions throughout the half.
Down 28-26 with slightly more than a minute remaining, Tech Texas moved ahead by four points as they scored after a PVAMU blocked shot. After a missed basket on the ensuing possession, Texas Tech scored off an offensive putback to move ahead 32-26 and held on to the lead at the close of the half.
The Panthers outscored Texas Tech 11-5 to open the second half and found themselves tied with the Red Raiders at 37-all after
Karim York's trey. However, the flow of the contest would change as the Panthers were whistled for seven fouls, committed three turnovers and shot 1-for-11 from the field over the next 10 minutes as Texs Tech went on a 20-3 run to pull away.
Scott scored five consecutive points for the Panthers to narrow the deficit to 16 but the gap was too big for the team to overcome as the Red Raiders claimed their seventh win in the series.
The Panthers were saddled with foul trouble as the officials whistled them for 28 fouls to Texas Tech's 11. The Red Raiders went to the line 36 times while the Panthers managed to shoot only nine free throws with eight made.
Scott led the way with 25 points and was the team's lone double-digit scorer.
Tre Hagood, York and
Reggis Onwukamuche tied for the team lead with four rebounds apiece.
Prairie View A&M is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 20 as they'll face Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas at 4:30 p.m.
