Opening the game with a 15-3 run, it seemed that the tables had turned for the Panthers’, but the Prairie View men would fall short of a major upset.
Prairie View stormed out the gate fast, but the Bearcats would make a push to come within six points, but Prairie View would not let up as Duwan Kornegay hit a three to take the lead to 33-18 at the 5:11 mark. It would be a battle for the rest of the half as Prairie View would lead 38-30 entering halftime.
In the second half Prairie View took a double digit lead 46-36 after Christopher scored on a lay-up with 16:37 left in the second half. However, the Bearcats of Cincinnati would roll and go on a 21-2 run. Cincinnati lead the Panthers’ 57-48, Prairie View continued to fight back and make the game not only exciting but competitive throughout.
With 33 seconds left in the game Prairie View’s Duwan Kornegay knocked down a three to bring the score within five, 67-62. Cincinnati’s Lance Stephenson missed two free throws with 32 two seconds left in the game, but the Panthers were unable to convert on the offense end. The Bearcats closed out the game with Stephenson connecting on two clutch free throws.
Five players scored in double figures led by Darnell Hugee’s 16 points. Dorian McDaniel, Michael Griffin, and Kornagay threw in 11 of his own. Jones had an all-around game scoring 10 with nine rebounds and seven assists.
The crowd would go ecstatic as Prairie View’s senior forward Darnell Hugee drove past defenders for a smooth two points, capping off a big night with a game high of 19 points. The Panther men’s basketball team did not disappoint the 2,000 plus fans in attendance at the Baby Dome as they routed the Schreiner Mountaineers 91-41 in their home opener.
The Panthers’ would prove immediately that the Schreiner Mountaineers would be no challenge as they jumped out to a big lead in the first half and never looked back. Fueled by sophomore guard Michael Griffith’s long range shooting who went 3-6 from three point range, ending with 15 points for the Panthers on the night. An aggressive but yet disciplined defense would cause the Mountaineers to turn over the ball numerous times, ending with a game total of 24 turnovers. Turnovers were the key to the Panthers’ first half success as they went into halftime with an enormous lead 41-24.
At the start of the second half, the Panthers would see no drop off in their game as they kept the heat on the Mountaineers. Senior guard Christopher Jones orchestrated the offense precisely just how a veteran point guard should. The Panthers controlled the tempo throughout the game and set up teammates for numerous opportunity scores, finishing the game with a game high 12 assists. One of the many beneficiaries by the outstanding guard play from Jones was fellow teammate forward Grady Green. In his first game in a Panther uniform scored 13 points. The Mountaineers would still play hard with help from Ralph Turner who led the Mountaineers in scoring with 16 points, but their efforts would come up short as the Panthers’ would easily slide by the Mountaineers 91-47 in their first win of the 2009-2010 season.
Prairie View returns to the court Thursday, against Florida Gulf Coast University at the William “Billy” J. Nicks Building 7pm.