With neither team ever playing in the Toyota Center, it took some time for both teams to get acclimated to the venue as they were tied at 15-all with 9:20 remaining.  The Panthers began to separate with a 6-0 push over the next three minutes to lead 21-15 but MVSU trimmed it to 23-19 four minutes later.  The Panthers began to come into their own over the final few minutes of the action as Demondre Chapman hit three free throws followed by five points from Louis Munks.  The Panthers broke the game open as they forced four MVSU turnovers in the final 4:51 for a 29-21 halftime margin.

Mississippi Valley State cut PVAMU's lead to four points on five separate occasions within the first seven minutes of the second stanza.  With 13:06 left, PVAMU senior Jules Montgomery hit a pair of free throws and a MVSU turnover led to a Montrael Scott layup and a 43-35 margin.  The Panthers forced another turnover three possessions later and began to roll as they went on a 14-4 run which expanded their lead to 52-39 at the 8:02 mark.

Valley closed to within 10 points at 53-43 a minute later but the Panthers kept charging as their lead grew to as much as 20 points on several occasions.  A late barrage of three-pointers by the Delta Devils trimmed the lead to 12 points as the game came to a close but the Panthers were never threatened as they won their third postseason contest in two years and second win over MVSU in postseason play since 2009.

Montgomery led PVAMU with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds followed by 17 points from Chapman, 15 from Tre Hagood, 13 from Montrael Scott and 10 by Munks.  Chapman had a solid defensive game off the bench with a team-high four blocks.

The Panthers will face top-seeded Southern on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in the Toyota Center.