PRAIRIE VIEW, TX -- In a heated clash at the William J. Nicks Building in Prairie View, TX, the Prairie View A&M Panthers men's basketball team fell to the Texas Southern Tigers with a final score of 80-68 on March 8, 2025. Despite an early lead and strong individual performances, the Panthers were unable to sustain their momentum against their cross-town rivals.

The Panthers kicked off the game on a high note, with early buckets from Braelon Bush and a three-pointer from Marcel Bryant, igniting the crowd. Bush finished with 13 points, while Bryant showcased a stellar performance, providing 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jordan Tillmon topped the scoring chart with 17 points. As a cohesive unit, the Panthers demonstrated impressive team play, with key assists distributed equally among John-Paul Ricks, Bryant, and Bush, each contributing 4 assists.

Led by Ryan Bolton Jr.'s four offensive rebounds, Prairie View A&M did a great job crashing the offensive glass, pulling down 13 boards that resulted in 16 second chance points.

Prairie View A&M forced 15 Texas Southern turnovers while committing 11 themselves in Saturday's game. The Panthers turned those takeaways into 16 points on the offensive end of the floor. John-Paul Ricks led the way individually with three steals.

How It Happened

After playing to a 2-2 tie, Prairie View A&M went on a 5-0 run with 18:19 left in the first half to take a 7-2 lead. The Panthers then surrendered that lead and entered halftime down 40-35.

Defensively, Prairie View made some noise with Marcel Bryant, Zaakir Sawyer, and John-Paul Ricks leading in steals and crucial blocks. Sawyer also contributed significantly on the offensive end with 13 points. Another notable performance was from Ryan Bolton Jr., who added 10 points and 7 rebounds, including a key dunk that energized the team and fans alike.

Despite their efforts, the Panthers were outpaced by Texas Southern who built a 5-point lead by halftime and expanded that lead in the second half. The Tigers' consistent scoring and effective defensive pressure were highlighted by key plays from their squad, notably a three-point shot by Kavion McClain that played a crucial role in sealing the game for Texas Southern.

Texas Southern kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 76-56 advantage before Prairie View A&M went on a 7-0 run, finished off by Tillmon's three, to shrink the deficit to 76-63 with 2:16 to go in the contest. The Panthers kept their comeback going, but Texas Southern managed to hold on for the 80-68 win. Prairie View A&M took care of business in the paint, recording 26 of its 33 points in the lane.

Game Notes

» Marcel Bryant notched a double-double for the Panthers with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
» Five Prairie View A&M players scored 10 or more points.
» The Prairie View A&M defense forced 15 turnovers.
» The Panthers were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, tallying six blocks as a team.
» Prairie View A&M cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 13 offensive boards in the game.
» Jordan Tillmon led the Panthers with a game-high 17 points.
» Prairie View A&M got a team-high 10 rebounds from Marcel Bryant.

With this loss, the Panthers find their season record at 5-26 overall and 4-14 in SWAC play, ending their regular season.