With the game hanging in the balance in the final seconds, Wells knocked down a free throw with 12 seconds remaining and a big block by Cory Dunning to give Prairie View A&M the lead for good, capping a decisive 6-0 Panthers run that sealed the victory.
Prairie View A&M (16-17) was powered by a spectacular effort from Horne, who poured in a game-high 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Wells delivered a massive double-double with 22 points and a game-high 10 rebounds while shooting 7-of-14 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range. Lance Williams rounded out the Panthers' balanced attack with 12 points, six assists, and four rebounds while committing just one turnover in 40 minutes.
Together, the trio accounted for 64 of Prairie View A&M's 71 points, nearly 90 percent of the team's offense.
The Panthers were efficient offensively, shooting 49.1 percent from the field (26-of-53) and an impressive 57.1 percent from three-point range (8-of-14). Defensively, Prairie View A&M locked in from the perimeter, holding Bethune-Cookman to just 18.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
The first half featured a back-and-forth battle as both teams traded momentum. Prairie View A&M erased an early deficit with a 7-0 run midway through the half, highlighted by a bucket from Horne that gave the Panthers a 22-17 advantage. The Wildcats battled back late, and a pair of free throws from Daniel Rouzan with 15 seconds remaining tied the game at 32-32 heading into the locker room.
Prairie View A&M found its rhythm early in the second half. Elijah Mitchell sparked the Panthers with a three-pointer at the 17:45 mark, and Wells later connected from deep to keep the offensive momentum rolling. Despite several Bethune-Cookman rallies — including a fast-break layup from Rouzan and a late dunk from Ariel Bland — the Panthers stayed composed.
With Bethune-Cookman holding a narrow 67-65 advantage late, Prairie View A&M responded when it mattered most. The Panthers strung together a decisive 6-0 run in the final moments, highlighted by Wells' clutch free throw that pushed Prairie View A&M ahead with 12 seconds left before the defense sealed the four-point victory.
Prairie View A&M controlled the glass with a slight 33-32 rebounding edge, fueled by Wells' 10 boards. The Panthers also grabbed 10 offensive rebounds and added five second-chance points while protecting the rim with five blocked shots.
Bethune-Cookman was led by Jakobi Heady, who scored 21 points while going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.
In a game defined by shot-making, resilience, and late-game execution, Prairie View A&M's dynamic trio of Horne, Williams and Wells proved to be the difference as the Panthers punched their ticket to the SWAC Tournament semifinals with a thrilling 71-67 victory.
