ITTA BENA, Miss. - The Prairie View A&M men's basketball team fell to Mississippi Valley 76-71 on Monday evening in SWAC action at the Harrison HPER Complex.
 
Gary Blackston led the Panthers in scoring with 22 points on 53 percent shooting from the floor. Dennis Jones added 18 points and four rebounds in 36 minutes of action. Zachary Hamilton tallied 17 points on 5-10 shooting from beyond the three point arc.
 
The Panthers had a strong start to the contest, leading 11-4 with 16:19 to go in the first half. The hot start was keyed by baskets from Hamilton, as he was red hot to start the game. The senior from Houston, Texas scored nine of PV's first 11 points. Prairie View remained in control in the following minutes, and an Austin Starr jumper, put the Purple and Gold ahead 19-6. With less than 13 minutes to go in the half. MVSU slowly clawed their way back into the contest cutting the lead to four on multiple occasions late in the first half.  However, the Panthers finished the half strong, as a Jones layup gave the Panthers a 32-24 lead going into halftime.
 
PVAMU broke slow out of the gates in the second half and were outscored 10-2 in the opening minutes. With 17:17 to go in the contest the score was knotted up at 34.  The Panthers responded going on an 11-2 run in the following minutes. Baskets from Jones, Blackston and Hamilton were pivotal during this scoring run. 
 
The Delta Devils climbed back into the game tying it up at 47-47 with 11:53 to go.  The game remained a back and forth affair for the next several minutes, as MVSU retook the lead. With less than three minutes remaining in regulation Prairie View trailed 65-62. In the subsequent minutes the Panthers were unable to regain the lead as time expired.  On some made free throws Mississippi Valley sunk Prairie View's chances of coming home with a victory.
 
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, February 24^th at the William J. Nicks Arena to take on Alabama State with tip off set for 5 p.m.
 
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