Prairie View A&M Panthers Defeat Southern, Remain Undefeated In SWAC Play

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The Prairie View A&M men's basketball team remained undefeated in Southwestern Athletic Conference play with a 78-74 win over Southern Wednesday night in the William J. Nicks Building.

Gary Blackston scored a team-high 24 points and added four rebounds as the Panthers (5-11 overall, 2-0 SWAC) win back-to-back games to open conference play since opening 3-0 in 2010.

Zachary Hamilton scored 18 points, Austin Starr added 14 points with five rebounds and six assists, and four steals, and Dennis Jones scored 11 points with three rebounds, five assists, and five steals.

There were seven ties and six lead changes in the game. After the final tie of the half at 26-26 with just over nine minutes to play in the first half, the Panthers went on a 20-5 run to end the half. A three-pointer by Hamilton started the run and his three before halftime ended the spurt as Prairie View A&M led 46-31 at halftime.

The teams traded baskets to open the second half, as Blackston's three-pointer gave the Panthers their largest lead of the game at 49-33 less than a minute into the second half.

BOX SCORE

After Southern (4-11, 0-2) gradually erased the deficit and tied the score at 60-60 with just over eight minutes to play, a Jones layup put the Panthers back in front, starting a series of plays in which the lead changed hands. After a three-point play gave Southern the lead, two free throws by Hamilton put PVAMU back in front 64-63 with 6:56 remaining.

Following a basket by the Jaguars, a pair of free throws by Blackston put the Panthers ahead to stay at 66-65 with 6:03 remaining. The lead eventually increased to six at 75-69 on a pair of Blackston free throws with 2:25 to play, and Prairie View A&M would not lead by less the four points down the stretch.

The Panthers return to action Saturday at Texas Southern in a doubleheader. The women's game begins at 5:30 p.m., and the men's game at 7:30 p.m. The PVAMU Sports Network broadcast begins with the pregame show at 5:15 p.m. at pvpanthers.com/sportsnetwork.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS