PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – The Prairie View A&M's men's basketball team defeated Grambling State 83-66 for their sixth straight win on Monday in the Baby Dome.
 
"The guys really prepared," head PVAMU men's basketball Coach Byron Smith said. "They came out and played with heart, played with soul and played with passion. The defensive effort was great in the first half. We shot the ball really well in the first half, but the defense is what got us going and what got us off to a great start."
 
The Panthers started the first half with a 7-0 run led by senior forward Iwin Ellis, giving them an early 7-2 lead over the Tigers. A 6-0 run led by junior guard Gerard Ellis lengthened the team's lead 27-16 with 6:33 left in the half.
 
Back to back three point shots by senior guard Gary Blackston and red-shirt junior Chancellor Ellis, put the Panthers up 36-17 with 3:51 left in the half. The team went on a 21-2 run to end the period.
 
PVAMU went into the half with a 48-19 lead on 18-33 shooting with their largest lead of the half at 29 points. Blackston led the team with nine points.
 
The Panther's scored the first points of the second half with a made layup from Blackston lifting them 50-19 over the Tigers. Senior guard Dennis Jones scored 10 of the Panther's 15 points in the last five minutes of the game. However, a dunk by junior forward Devonte Patterson in the closing seconds of the game sealed the 83-66 victory.
 
Blackston led the team with 21 points, and five rebounds. Patterson followed behind with 11 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Ellis also contributed with nine points, two rebounds.
 
Next up for the Panthers will be a swift Mississippi Valley State team on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 4:30 p.m., in Itta Bena, Miss.