The Prairie View A&M men’s basketball team couldn’t extend its winning streak to three games when they lost to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Panthers were down at the half and because of the hot shooting of the Golden Tigers who were 12-27 overall and 7-15 from three point range. The Panthers shot 11-26 but were 0-2 from behind the arc. Larry Williams led the Golden Tigers in scoring with 15 points and William Byrd had 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Overall the Tigers cooled off in the second half shooting only 12-31 overall and making only 3-10 three point attempts. The Panthers couldn’t capitalize having a poor shooting half as well, going only 10-26 in the second half and going 0-4 from three point range.
The Panthers’ leading scorer was Blake Thompson who had 14. Derek Johnson had 10 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists with a valiant effort.
On Monday, the Prairie View men’s basketball team went down in defeat 63-59 against the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils in a close game.
The Panthers had a two point lead at the end of the first half because of their good shooting behind the three-point line going 5-11. What hurt the Panthers down the stretch was their second half three point shooting. The Devils shot 10-20 in the second half and only 1-4 from three-point range, but the Panthers fouled the Devils heavily down the stretch, giving the Devils 11 more attempts at the line and they capitalized going 14-17 in the second half and 21-25 overall.
Stanford Speech led all scorers with 19 points. Michael Clark scored in double figures, adding 15 and Larry Cox had 10 points. The Panthers were led in scoring by Ahmed Khalfan who had 14, Aaron Smith had 11, and Jonathan Dixon with 10.
The Panthers now head home for the last stretch of the season. The last four regular season games will be vital for the Panthers if they are serious about entering the conference tourney. The Panthers will now prepare for the last home games of the season, Alabama A&M on Saturday, March 1 and Monday, March 3 against Alabama State, both at 7:30 p.m. in the William J. Nicks field house.