Andrus, Patterson lead Prairie View A&M past Alcorn State

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PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (AP) — Gerard Andrus and Devonte Patterson combined for 40 points as Prairie View A&M defeated Alcorn State 84-70 on Saturday, opening defense of its Southwest Athletic Conference championship.

Andrus scored 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting for the Panthers (5-9, 1-0) and Patterson added 19 points with six assists.

Prairie View scored back-to-back off consecutive Alcorn State turnovers for an early 7-0 lead, gunned that up to 24 points before coasting to a 44-27 edge at halftime. Alcorn State (4-8, 0-1) chopped the lead down to seven, 71-64 on a Deshaw Andrews bucket with 5:13 remaining but could get no closer.

Antoine Lister added 14 points for Prairie View, which shot 56% for the game, 31-for-55. The Panthers added 20 points from the foul line in 25 attempts. Leon Sneed dished a career-high 12 assists.

Corey Tillery and Maurice Howard scored 17 each to lead the Braves, Dominic Brewton added 15.

Prairie View faces Southern at home on Monday. Alcorn State plays Texas Southern on the road on Monday.