GRAMBLING, LA --Charles Smith IV and Javontae Hopkins combined to score 39 total points, but the Panthers fell to the Grambling Tigers 69-63 on the road Saturday.

The Panthers (5-9, 0-1) had two players score in double figures, led by Smith IV, who had 24 points. Hopkins tacked on 15 points, four assists and four steals and Kevin McGaskey added six points, six assists and two steals.

Prairie View A&M shared the ball well in Saturday's game, racking up 17 assists on 24 made field goals. McGaskey's six assists led the Panthers.

Prairie View A&M forced 22 Grambling turnovers while committing 13 themselves in Saturday's game. The Panthers turned those takeaways into 21 points on the offensive end of the floor. Hopkins' four steals led the way for Prairie View A&M.

How It Happened

Prairie View A&M kept it close in the first period, but entered halftime down 25-21.

Grambling kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 65-50 advantage before Prairie View A&M went on a 7-0 run, finished off by Charles Smith Iv's layup, to shrink the deficit to 65-57 with 1:34 to go in the contest. The Panthers kept their comeback going, but Grambling managed to hold on for the 69-63 win. Prairie View A&M took care of business in the paint, recording 30 of its 42 points in the lane.

Game Notes

» The Panthers shared the ball well, recording an assist on 71 percent of made baskets.
» Charles Smith IV and Javontae Hopkins carried the load for the Panthers, accounting for 62 percent their points.
» The Prairie View A&M defense forced 22 turnovers.
» Prairie View A&M cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 11 offensive boards in the game.
» Charles Smith IV led the Panthers with a game-high 24 points.
» Prairie View A&M got four rebounds from both Felix, Jr.,Chris and Brian Myles.