FRESNO, Ca.  – The Prairie View A&M men's basketball team earned its first win of the season with a hard-fought 84-78 win at defending Mountain West Champion Fresno State Monday night.
 
The Panthers (1-1) shot 52 percent from the field in the second half (12-23), including 21-of-25 from the free throw line in outscoring Fresno State (1-1) 48-37 in the final 20 minutes as Byron Smith gets his first win as full time head coach.
 
Six PVAMU players scored in double figures, led by Daquan Cook's 17 points. L.J. Westbrook scored 14, Admassu Williams 12, Ja'Donta Blakley and Tevin Bellinger each scored 11, and Zachary Hamilton 10 as the Panthers were a stellar 26-31 from the free-throw line in the contest.
 
Williams' two free throws with 6:28 remaining in the game gave the Panthers the lead for good, 64-63. A three-pointer from the top of the key by Hamilton gave Prairie View A&M a 73-65 lead with 3:32 to play in the game, and a pair of free throws by Hamilton with: 49 seconds to play pushed the margin to double-digits.
 
Cook scored 10 first-half points as the Panthers trailed 41-36 at halftime.  PVAMU shot 41.9 percent from the field (13-31), as the Panthers made five 3s in the first 20 minutes and 5-of-6 from the free throw line.
 
Prairie View A&M returns to action Wednesday at Saint Mary's at 9 p.m. CT.

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