PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – A late run by the Prairie View A&M men's basketball team was enough to win a 69-63 thriller against Mississippi Valley State, Saturday at the William J. Nicks Building.

"This was a tough game for us tonight," Head PVAMU men's basketball coach Byron Smith said. "Tough team (Miss. Valley) tonight. Their record doesn't indicate the type of team they are. They're a scrappy team, but they play hard and play together. So we were expecting this tonight. They really made us dig deep to make some plays."

The Panthers started slow, but a made layup by junior forward Devonte Patterson gave the Panthers their first points of the game. The teams tied four times, with the first coming at 14 all. The Delta Devils broke the tie extending their lead by as many as 12 points, before a jumper by Patterson brought the deficit down 29-19 at the 8:34 mark.

Going scoreless for just under four minutes, before a made three pointer by junior guard Antione Lister brought the score down 34-25.  The team went on a 5-2 run led by graduate Taishaun Johnson to close out the half trailing 39-30. Patterson led the team with 12 points.

Senior forward Iwin Ellis opened the second half with a made layup through traffic and a foul shot to bring the team's deficit down 39-33. Junior guard Gerard Andrus finished hard at the rim with a dunk to bring the team within two at 40-38.

After going scoreless for nearly three minutes, back-to-back three pointers by senior guard Gary Blackston, brought the Panthers within one at 50-49 at the 12:07 mark. The teams were tied at 52, but a made three pointer from senior guard Dennis Jones gave the team their first lead of the half at 55-54. PVAMU trailed by one until a layup through traffic by Blackston restored their lead to 57-56.

Two free throws by Patterson tied the teams once again this time at 59, before another made free throw by Patterson brought PV within one at 61-60. Blackston followed with another made three pointer to give the Panthers a 63-61 lead over MVSU.

Andrus made a fast break layup to extend the team's lead 65-61 with just over two minutes left to play. A layup by Patterson then capped off the 7-0 run for a 67-63 advantage over MVSU.  Two made free throws by Jones in the final minute of play, sealed the game with PVAMU walking away with the 69-63 win.

Patterson led the team with 20 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Blackston followed behind with 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Andrus also contributed with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal.

"We had to make some defensive stops late, and we had to rebound the ball better," Smith said. "We made a few tough jump shots to close out the game. So thankfully, we got this "W" and we'll move on and get ready for a tough Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Monday."

The Panthers will return to the Baby Dome on Monday, Feb. 25 to face the Golden Lions of Arkansas - Pine Bluff at 7:30 p.m. for Greek Night.

#pvamumenshoops