Sophomore guard Michael Griffin scored 12 of his team-high 14 points in the second half as the Prairie View A&M (2-1) men’s basketball team broke open a close game to defeat Florida Gulf Coast (0-2) 69-54 at the William Nicks Building.
Neither team shot well in the first half but Prairie View A&M overcame FGCU’s match-up zone and managed to pull ahead at the close of the half following a 9-2 run to claim a 21-19 halftime advantage.
Fueled by back-to-back three-point baskets from Griffin, the Panthers opened the second half with a 12-3 run and took control of the game as they led 33-22 with 16:41 remaining. The Panthers led by as much as 15 points on two occasions from that point en route to their first non-conference win over an NCAA Division I team since 2007.
Griffin led Prairie View with 14 points and four assists while Darnell Hugee and Grady Green chipped in 10 points apiece.
Prairie View returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 24 with a match-up at Oklahoma State
