Box Score Prairie View, Tex.-Four Braves players scored in double-figures tonight against Prairie View in a key SWAC matchup. The Braves outscored the Panthers 50-41 in the second half to pick up
Luther Riley's 20th career win, 81-75.
It was a close game all the way through with the Braves striking first on a layup guard
LeAntwan Luckett. Freshman guard
Devonte Hampton hit a jumper .30 seconds later to give the Braves a 4-0 lead.
Prairie View's Jordan Demuynck put the Panthers on the board and gave them their first lead of the game 8-6 at the 15:18 mark.
The Braves retook the lead later on a monster dunk by Luckett to make the score 12-10 with 13:19 left in the first half. Demuynck fired back knocking down a jumper to tie the game at 12-12.
A few minutes later senior guard Anthony Nieves nailed a three-pointer to extend the Braves lead to 17-12.
The Braves and the Panthers shared the lead for almost the entire first half but it was the Panthers who went into the locker room with a 34-31 lead.
With only a few seconds into the second half, Nieves tied the game on a three-pointer right after the break to tie the game at 34-34.
Nieves once again hit a another three-pointer to give the Braves a 46-38 lead with 14:54 to play in the second half. The Braves extended their lead to as many as 14 points, 55-44, on a three-pointer by senior Marquziz Baker halfway through the second half.
The Panthers would cut the lead to three on a layup by Carl Blair with 1:18 to play in the game, 72-69. The Braves kept their composure and continued to knock down shots to pull off the victory.
Nieves led the Braves with 19 points.
Marquiz Baker and LeAntwan Luckett scored 18 and 17 points, respectively. Devonte Hampton added 10 points for the Braves.
Prairie View was led by Demuynck who scored a game-high 22 points. Carl Blair added 13 points while Jules Montgomery chipped in 12 points for the Panthers.
The Braves wrap up the regular season with a tough matchup against Texas Southern on Saturday night. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. immediately following the women's game.
