LORMAN, MS -- In a tough outing for Prairie View A&M, the Panthers faced a challenging defeat against the Alcorn Braves with a final score of 71-55 on March 1, 2025, at the Davey L. Whitney Health & Physical Education Complex. Braelon Bush, Zaakir Sawyer, and Marcel Bryant combined to score 42 of Prairie View A&M's 55 total points. Despite a spirited comeback attempt in the second half, the Panthers could not overcome the early lead established by Alcorn. 

The Panthers (5-24, 4-12) had four players score in double figures, led by Bush, who had 19 points and eight rebounds. Sawyer added 12 points off of the bench and Bryant helped out with 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Led by Sawyer's five offensive rebounds, Prairie View A&M did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 14 boards that resulted in 16 second chance points.

How It Happened

The game opened with Alcorn asserting dominance, jumping to a 15-point lead by the end of the first half. Key plays included swift baskets from Alcorn's Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt and three-pointers from Davian Williams. For the Panthers, the challenge was steep from the start as they trailed 42-27 at halftime. Braelon Bush emerged as a leading scorer for Prairie View, contributing significantly with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and showing his versatility with 2 assists and a steal.

During the second period, Prairie View tried to close the gap, fueled by Jordan Tillmon and Braelon Bush's offensive efforts. Tillmon's layups and free throws and Bush's crucial three-pointer momentarily shifted momentum, but Alcorn's defense proved too robust, consistently blocking Panther advances. Highlights for Prairie View included Marcel Bryant's all-around performance with 11 points, 7 rebounds, and leading the team with 4 assists.

Alcorn State kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 71-50 advantage before Prairie View A&M went on a 5-0 run to shrink the deficit to 71-55 with 20 seconds to go in the contest, The Panthers were unable to cut further into the deficit by the end of the game, losing 71-55. Prairie View A&M took care of business in the paint, recording 14 of its 28 points in the lane.

Game Notes

» Braelon Bush, Zaakir Sawyer, and Marcel Bryant combined to account for 76 percent of the Panthers points.
» Prairie View A&M cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 14 offensive boards in the game.
» Braelon Bush led the Panthers with a game-high 19 points.
» Prairie View A&M got a team-high eight rebounds from Braelon Bush.

The Panthers now look ahead to their last regular season game, hoping to claim a home victory against Texas Southern on March 8, 2025. This game will be crucial as the team aims to finish strong in front of their home crowd at the William J. Nicks Building and improve on their current 5-24 record.