TAMPA, Fla. — A season filled with milestones, resilience, and history came to an end Friday night as Prairie View A&M fell to the top-seeded Florida Gators, 114-55, at Benchmark International Arena.

While the final score didn't reflect the journey, the Panthers (19-18) close out one of the most memorable seasons in program history highlighted by a SWAC Tournament championship and the program's first-ever First Four victory in the NCAA Tournament over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks.

Prairie View A&M showed flashes of fight throughout the contest, with Tai'Reon Joseph leading the way with 16 points. Dontae Horne added 12 points, closing out a standout season in which he emerged as one of the SWAC's premier scorers. Inside, Hassane Diallo contributed a strong effort on the glass with eight rebounds and two blocks.

Florida's depth and size proved difficult to overcome, as the Gators built an early advantage and carried a 60-21 lead into halftime. Despite the deficit, the Panthers continued to compete, getting a spark from their bench, which contributed 18 total points.

Though Prairie View A&M was unable to mount a second-half comeback, the night marked the conclusion of a season that will be remembered far beyond the final buzzer.

From cutting down the nets in the SWAC Tournament to breaking through on the national stage in Dayton, this Panthers squad etched its place in school history.
Their First Four win not only secured a spot in the Round of 64, but also signaled a new chapter of postseason success for the program.

Friday night's result may close the book on the 2025-26 campaign, but it does not diminish what this team accomplished.

A championship earned. A barrier broken. A legacy built.