PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – In a low scoring contest the Prairie View A&M men's basketball team narrowly escaped the claws of the Golden Lions as they picked up another conference win by defeating Arkansas - Pine Bluff 48-44 on Monday in the Baby Dome.
 
"Tough game," Head coach Byron Smith said. "Our worst offensive output of the season, but might've been our best defensive, so we will take the good with the bad. At this time of year, a win is a win. This was an ugly win tonight, but we're proud and very happy that we were able to pull out the win."
 
Two back-to-back buckets by junior forward Devonte Patterson gave the Panthers an early 4-0 lead. After three made free throws, a made jumper from senior guard Gary Blackston put the team up 9-8 with 13:38 remaining in the first half. The teams tied twice before a layup by junior guard Gerard Andrus allowed PV to take a 14-12 lead over UAPB.
 
After the teams tied again at 14, back-to-back layups from Andrus and junior guard Chancellor Ellis restored their lead to 18-14.
 
Following a made free throw by Patterson, the team was able to close the half leading 26-23 on a made jumper from Blackston, who led the team with 9 points.
 
The Panthers went on an 8-2 run to start off, led by senior forward Iwin Ellis to start of the second half to take a 34-24 lead. Both teams went scoreless for close to four minutes before a layup from Blackston extended the team's lead 36-28 at the 10:19 mark. A layup from C. Ellis stopped a UAPB run to push the team ahead 38-31.
 
A made three pointer from Antione Lister with a little over four minutes to go in the second half pushed PV ahead 41-37.  Followed by a shoot from around the arch by  C. Ellis in the closing minute of play, and four straight made free throws sealed the team's 48-44 win.
 
C. Ellis led the team with 12 points, while Blackston followed with 11 points, and six rebounds. Patterson contributed with nine points
 
"I thought our defense was really good, but we have to rebound the ball better," Smith said. "If we make foul shots, it's not as close of a game. But we still have some work to do. So we have to get back to work here on Wednesday and fine tune some things to get ready for the final four games we have coming up."
 
Next, the Panthers will face Alabama A&M on Saturday, March 2 at 6 p.m. in Huntsville, Ala.