LORMAN, Miss. - The Prairie View A&M University men's basketball team won 79-69 in SWAC action on Thursday evening at the Davey L. Whitney Complex, that will place them as a top seed to host the first round of SWAC Tournament with the women's team on Tuesday night.
 
Troy Thompson led the Panthers in scoring with 20 points of 55.9 percent shooting from beyond the three point line. Dennis Jones added 15 points, four assists and two steals. J.D. Wallace added 14 points and snatched six rebounds in 32 minutes of game action.  Gary Blackston added 13 points on 9-11 shooting from the free throw line.
 
The Panthers broke fast out of the gates, playing suffocating defense and playing well on the offensive end. With 14:29 left in the first half Prairie View led 11-4. The strong start was keyed by a converted three pointers from Thompson and Zachary Hamilton. Prairie View remained in control of the contest in the following minutes, as Juan Hood's layup gave PV a nine point lead with less than eight minutes remaining. Alcorn State clawed back into the contest, going on an 8 -2 run to reduce the Panthers to three with 4:08 to go in the opening half. Prairie View went on a run of their own, going on a 15-3 run to close out the first half. The run was keyed by buckets from Thompson, Hood, and Blackston. At halftime Prairie View led 35-20.
 
The Panthers remained in control as the second half began, getting strong play on both ends from Thompson, Hamilton, Wallace and Jones. With 15:58 Prairie View led 47-33. The Panthers continued to lead by double digits in the subsequent minutes, leading by as many as a dozen points.  With less than six minutes remaining in the contest Prairie View led 60-51, following a Blackston layup.  Alcorn State eventually cut the lead to six with less than three minutes to go. With 2:23 left in the contest PVAMU led 70-64. The Panthers responded putting the game away with pivotal buckets from Jones, Blackston, Hood, and Wallace
 
The Panthers will return to the hardwood for action on March 3rd in Baton Rouge, La. to take on Southern University. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
 
 
                                   
 
 
 
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