ORLANDO, Fla. - Senior Chancellor Ellis scored 29 points but it wasn't enough as the Prairie View A&M men's basketball team dropped a 73-69 contest to Central Florida Saturday afternoon at Addition Financial Arena.

Ellis did most of his damage in the second half, particularly from beyond the arc. Ellis was 8-of-12 from three-point land for the game, scoring 15 points in the final 20 minutes.

UCF had four players in double figures, led by 16 from Dazon Ingram.

Prairie View A&M (1-1), who was without Preseason SWAC Player of the Year Devonte Patterson for the game, trailed throughout the first half, facing a deficit as large as 13 at one point. Down 36-25 to begin the second half, the Panthers began to rally, using a 6-0 run to cut the lead to four with 16:09 left.

UCF pushed back, leading by as many as eight until Ellis caught fire from long range, burying five three-balls over a four-minute stretch that allowed the Panthers to tie the game at 47.

Though junior Dajuan Madden converted a layup to key a 7-2 run to put the Panthers ahead 54-49 midway through the period, the Knights responded with an 11-3 run powered by a pair of treys from Frank Bertz to go ahead 61-57 with just over five minutes left. The Panthers got within one possession three times down the stretch but were unable to overtake UCF in the final moments.

Senior Gerard Andrus added 14 points for the Panthers, who shot 23-of-60 (38.3 percent) from the floor. Prairie View A&M went 11-of-21 from deep, good for a 52.4 percent clip. PVAMU outrebounded UCF 40-37.

Next Up:
Prairie View A&M returns to action Tuesday at Texas State.