Bulldogs conclude Monday night’s double header with Victory

Box Score

NORMAL – In a game that saw three lead changes and Alabama A&M down 20 at the 3:52 mark in the first half head coach Willie Hayes put it best.

“Just keep playing,” Hayes mentioned. “I look at the clock and said we have to do something and we did.”

It was a tough first half for the Bulldogs as they didn’t reach double digits on the scoreboard until the 9:23 mark. With A&M shooting poorly Prairie View A&M University took advantage opening a 32-12 lead then taking a 38-25 advantage at intermission.

The Panthers outscored A&M 17-8 in bench points and 13-5 in second chance opportunities.

“We started out sluggish and playing a zone defense but that didn’t work out well,” Hayes said. “I got on Jerome Hunter about rebounds and he came up with a season high 10.”

“I told the team we needed energy and the crowd expected more out of them. We came out in the second half and competed.”

The Bulldogs came out strong closing the lead to four points by the 16 minute mark. An 18 footer by Jeremy Crutcher allowed the
Maroon & White to secure their final lead of the night giving them a 47-45 lead with 10:41 remaining.

Alabama A&M (5-13, 3-6 SWAC) then out-scored the Panthers 17-9 to earn their third Southwestern Athletic Conference victory and fifth overall.

The Panthers shot season low 21% on six of 29 from the field, 14% on 1 of 7 from the three-point line and 30 percent on 3 of 10 from the charity stripe. A&M finished the contest 22 for 55 for 40% from the field. They also out-scored PV 16-4 in the second half in bench points and 7-5 in second chance advantages.

Jeremy Ingram gave A&M the momentum throughout the second half as the leading scorer with 16 points and three rebounds. Demarquelle Tabb posted his fifth double double of the year with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Crutcher rounded out the Bulldog scorers with 11 points while Jerome Hunter totaled a season high 10 boards.

Prairie View was led by Jourdan Demuynck and Louis Munks with 14 points each.

The Maroon & White will return to action on Saturday, February 4, when they travel to Pine Bluff, Ark. to take on the Golden Lions of the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.

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