NORMAL, Ala. – The Prairie View A&M University men's basketball team defeated Alabama A&M 88-67 on Monday evening in SWAC action at the T.M. Elmore Gym.
Gary Blackston led PVAMU in scoring with 32 points on 47 percent shooting from the floor.
Dennis Jones tallied 18 points and six assists in 30 minutes of game action.
Troy Thompson gave the Panthers 15 points on 75 percent shooting from beyond the three point arc.
As the game began both the Bulldogs and the Panthers traded the lead. A converted layup by Blackston would give PVAMU a 9-8 advantage with 14 minutes left in the opening half of play. AAMU would later take the lead, but the Panthers stayed in striking distance never trailing by more than six. With 7:11 remaining PVAMU was down 22-17. The Panthers would later take a 28-27 lead with 3:55 remaining in the half thanks to Blackston converting a free throw. Prairie View would finish the opening half strong, outscoring the Bulldogs 14-2 in the final minutes of the half. The run was keyed by buckets from Blackston, Thompson,
Shaquille Preston and
Keion Alexander, going into the half up 41-29.
The second half began with PVAMU firmly in control of the contest, leading by as many as 15 with 16:19 left in regulation after a converted
Austin Starr lay in. AAMU would try to cut into the Panther lead, however they were unable to reduce the Prairie View A&M advantage to less than 11. The Panthers continued to get strong play on both ends from Thompson, Alexander, Jones, Blackston and Zach Hamilton as the game came to its conclusion.
"We're playing good basketball right now," said head PVAMU men's basketball coach. "There was a bit of adversity, I think the crowd affected us early in the first half, but we just competed and defended and I'm very pleased with the victory tonight."
The Panthers return to the hardwood on Saturday, February 3rd at the William J. Nicks Baby Dome for a conference showdown with cross town rival Texas Southern with the tip off set for 5:30 p.m.
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