JACKSON, Miss. – Prairie View A&M's six-game winning streak over Jackson State came to an end as the Panthers fell short in the closing seconds by a 60-57 margin Monday night.
Scoring was at a minimum as the game began as a total of 12 points were scored between both teams within the first eight-and-a-half minutes. Despite getting off to a less than stellar shooting performance, the Panthers remained in the contest due to their defensive efforts as they forced five turnovers and held JSU to 2-of-10 shooting from the field.
The Panthers continued their defensive prowess over the next few minutes as they upped JSU's turnover count to nine entering the third media timeout. Offensively, the Panthers relied on their defense to put them in scoring position as they led 10-8 with 7:28 remaining. PVAMU began to have success on the offensive side as sophomore forward Zachary Hamilton attacked the basket aggressively and scored four of the next six points to extend the lead to 16-13 with 3:37 remaining.
Everything would click for the Panthers from that point as they outscored JSU 8-1 over the next two minutes to claim a 24-14 double digit lead after senior guard Jayrn Johnson's free throw. However, offensive opportunities were slim for the Panthers over the final minute as they would miss their lone shot attempt while JSU would cut the deficit at the half to 24-20 as junior guard Chace Franklin scored the final six points of the half.
Jackson State's run extended to the second half as they scored eight unanswered to draw within 24-22 but the Panthers held on as junior forward Tyler Miller scored four of PVAMU's next eight points to up the margin to 34-28 with 15:52 remaining. However, Jackson State used the three-ball and took advantage of its offensive rebounding for second chance opportunities to kick start a 13-3 run as they led 41-37 at the 11:10 mark.
Charleston Dobbs' much-needed putback off Hamilton's jumper ended the JSU run and closed the gap to 41-39 while two free throws by Admassu Williams tied the contest at 41-all with 9:35 on the clock. The Panthers regained their composure on both ends of the court and regained a 43-41 lead after Hamilton's two free throws marked their first lead since 14:22 left in the second half.
Both teams would trade free throws as they were tied once again at 45 with 6:38 left but a PVAMU turnover off an offensive foul led to a JSU layup and 47-45 deficit. Tevin Bellinger's two free throws tied the game at 47-all and Jordan Giddings came up with a big steal to regain control of the ball shortly past the five-minute mark.
Neither team would find the basket over the next two minutes and the Panthers were whistled for a charging foul which turned into a JSU three-point play on the ensuing possession as Raeford Worsham converted the and-one in the paint for a 50-47 lead with 3:32 left. PVAMU's Tyler Miller hit 1-of-2 free throws to draw within 50-48 but Worsham drove the length of the court and extended JSU's lead to 52-48 before Bellinger answered with a driving layup to keep PVAMU within two at 52-50. However, Worsham once again remained a thorn in PVAMU's side as the 6-4 senior came around the left side of the basket untouched and dunked home a basket to up JSU's lead to 54-50 at the 2:26 mark.
A pump fake in the paint over two defenders by Bellinger cut the margin to 54-52 but JSU's Yettra Specks hit a wide open three-pointer with four seconds on the shot clock to give JSU a 57-52 margin. PVAMU refused to die as Avery Lomax hit two free throws to draw within one possession at 57-54 but JSU continued its three-point barrage as Janarius Middleton hit a trey from the top of the key for a 60-54 lead with 1:04 left. PVAMU would answer once again as Bellinger converted a three-point play and cut the deficit to 60-57 with 51 seconds left and a strip steal by Jayrn Johnson in the paint on JSU's nest offensive posession gave the Panthers an opportunity to tie with 21 seconds remaining.
During PVAMU's final possession, the Panthers struggled to get an open look at the basket and had to settle for an off-balance three-pointer which fell short. Hamilton would snag the offensive rebound off the missed basket but the outlet pass sailed out of bounds. JSU would miss an opportunity to lead by two possessions as they missed two free throws with 1.6 seconds let but the Panthers' last-second shot fell short as the buzzer sounded.
Bellinger led the Panthers with 19 points off the bench while Williams led the Panthers in rebounding with seven boards.
The Panthers are back in action this Saturday evening as they'll host Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 5 p.m.
