PINE BLUFF, AR -- In a thrilling league basketball showdown, the Prairie View A&M men's basketball team rallied for a comeback victory, defeating the Ark.-Pine Bluff Golden Lions with a final score of 75-64 Monday night. The intense match up took place at the H.O. Clemmons Arena in Pine Bluff, AR.
The first half was a challenging period for the Panthers, as they trailed the Golden Lions with a halftime score of 29-33. However, the team turned the tide in the second half, showcasing their resilience and determination by scoring an impressive 46 points, in contrast to their first half's performance. Leading the charge for the Panthers was Tanahj Pettway, who delivered a stellar game with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and two steals. Braelon Bush also made significant contributions with 18 points, three rebounds, three steals, and one block, while other team members like Orlando Horton, Jr. added eight points and five steals. and Marcel Bryant led the way individually for the Panthers with four rejections to the defensive strength.
This victory marks an important milestone for Prairie View A&M as it solidifies their position in the SWAC with a conference record of 3-1, despite a challenging overall season record of 4-13. The Panthers demonstrated their capability to overcome adversity and clinch a win through a cohesive team effort in crucial moments of the game.
Looking ahead, the Panthers are set to host Jackson State on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the William J. Nicks Building in Prairie View, Texas. The team aims to continue their winning momentum in front of their home crowd and improve their standings in the league.
How It Happened
After falling behind 31-18, Prairie View A&M went on an 11-0 run with 5:16 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Pettway, to narrow its deficit to 31-29. UAPB answered back and added to its lead, leaving the Panthers down 33-29 entering halftime.
UAPB kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 43-35 advantage before Prairie View A&M went on a 14-0 run, finished off by Elijah Terry's layup, to seize a 49-43 lead with 12:02 to go in the contest. The Panthers kept expanding the margin and coasted the rest of the way for the 75-64 win. Prairie View A&M capitalized on seven UAPB turnovers in the period, collecting 13 points off those turnovers.
Game Notes
» Pettway notched an impressive double-double for the Panthers with 33 points and 11 rebounds.
» The Panthers held the Golden Lions to only 36.1 percent shooting from the field.
» Pettway, Bush, and Horton combined to account for 79 percent of the Panthers points.
» Prairie View A&M had a great day defensively, holding UAPB to 18 percent from beyond the arc on 28 attempts.
» The Prairie View A&M bench made an impact by adding 26 points to its scoring output.
» The Prairie View A&M defense forced 15 turnovers.
» The Panthers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying eight blocks as a team.
» Terry and Pettway led Prairie View A&M with 11 rebounds each.
