MONTGOMERY, Ala. --  In a closely contested league game on Saturday, January 25, 2025, Prairie View A&M's men's basketball team faced a narrow defeat against Alabama State, with a final score of 66-63 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in Montgomery, AL.

Despite leading performances from top scorers Braelon Bush, Marcel Bryant, and Jordan Tillmon, the Panthers could not secure a win against the Hornets.

The game was tense with several lead changes, highlighting the competitive spirit between the two teams. Prairie View A&M initially trailed by two points at halftime, with the score standing at 26-28 in favor of Alabama State. Bush led the team with a remarkable 25 points, followed by Bryant with 14 and Tillmon with 13 points and nine rebounds. Additional contributions came from Orlando Horton Jr., who scored six points and grabbed three rebounds, demonstrating vital support in the team's offensive efforts.

Despite the Panthers' robust performance, Alabama State managed to keep the lead, primarily due to crucial free throws in the final moments of the game. The loss leaves Prairie View A&M with a season record of 4-16, including a 3-4 record in SWAC play.

Looking ahead, Prairie View A&M is set to face Alabama A&M on January 27, 2025, in Huntsville, Ala., where they hope to rebound from this tough loss. The Panthers will be aiming to leverage their strengths and focus on strategic improvements to enhance their standing in the league.

How It Happened

After falling behind 7-4, Prairie View A&M went on a 5-0 run with 16:27 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Bush, to take a 9-7 lead. The Panthers then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 28-26.

Alabama State kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 62-54 advantage before Prairie View A&M went on a 7-0 run, finished off by Bush's layup, to shrink the deficit to 62-61 with 11 seconds to go in the contest. Alabama State responded and outscored the Panthers the rest of the way, ending the game with a final score of 66-63. Prairie View A&M got out on the break in the period, scoring 17 fast break points.

Game Notes

» Bush, Bryant, and Tillmon combined to account for 83 percent of the Panthers points.
» Bush led the Panthers with a game-high 25 points.
» Prairie View A&M got nine rebounds from both Bryant and Tillmon.