DAYTON, Ohio — Prairie View A&M is dancing on.

Behind a dominant performance from Dontae Horne and Cory Wells, the Panthers powered past the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, 67-55, Wednesday night at University of Dayton Arena in the NCAA First Four.

With the win, Prairie View A&M advances to face No. 1 seed Florida Gators men's basketball on Friday, March 20 at 9:25 p.m. ET at Benchmark International Arena marking the program's next step on the national stage.

Horne, Wells Lead the Charge

Horne delivered a game-high 25 points, adding seven rebounds and four steals in a standout all-around effort. Wells recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Lance Williams contributed 10 points, two steals, and two blocks.

The trio combined for 54 of Prairie View A&M's 67 points, fueling an efficient and balanced offensive attack.

Turning Point

After trailing 29-27 at halftime, Prairie View A&M seized control in the second half.

Clinging to a 43-41 lead, the Panthers used an 8-0 run — capped by a Wells jumper — to create separation at 51-41 with 8:36 remaining. From there, Prairie View A&M maintained control and closed out the 12-point victory.

Defensive Dominance

The Panthers made their presence felt defensively all night:

• Forced 16 turnovers while committing just nine

• Converted take aways into 18 points

• Held Lehigh to 36.2% shooting

• Recorded nine blocks as a team

Prairie View A&M also controlled the paint, scoring 22 points inside.

Game Notes

• Wells posted his double-double (19 pts, 11 reb)

• Horne led all scorers with 25 points

• Prairie View A&M tallied nine team blocks

• The Panthers forced 16 turnovers

Up Next

Prairie View A&M (19-17) now turns its attention to a major test against top-seeded Florida, with a chance to continue its postseason run on Friday night in Tampa.