Prairie View A&M First Four Win 67 - 55 Over Lehigh Secures Historic March Madness Breakthrough

DAYTON, Ohio — Prairie View A&M Panthers men's basketball earned a historic breakthrough with a 67 - 55 victory over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks men's basketball in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament First Four, marking the program’s first ever March Madness win.

Dontae Horne led Prairie View A and M with 25 points while Cory Wells added 19, providing the offensive foundation in a controlled and efficient performance. Lance Williams contributed 10 points as the Panthers secured their first NCAA Tournament victory in their third appearance.

The win represents a major milestone for Prairie View A and M and delivers a key timeline moment for the program within the national tournament landscape. Entering as a No. 16 seed in the South Region, the Panthers now advance to face the defending national champion Florida Gators men's basketball in the Round of 64.

Prairie View A and M established control through defensive discipline and shot efficiency, limiting Lehigh’s primary scoring options while maintaining a steady offensive pace. The Panthers held Lehigh to 55 points and capitalized on key stretches where defensive pressure disrupted rhythm and forced difficult attempts.

A central factor in the outcome was the containment of Nasir Whitlock, Lehigh’s leading scorer. Whitlock was held scoreless for more than 26 minutes and finished with five points on 2 of 15 shooting. It marked the first time since early November that he failed to reach double figures, representing a significant defensive achievement for Prairie View A and M.

Hank Alvey led Lehigh with 23 points and provided consistent scoring throughout the game, but the Mountain Hawks were unable to generate enough offensive support to close the gap.

From a broader tournament perspective, the result highlights a recurring March Madness trend in which No. 16 seeds that emerge from the First Four enter the Round of 64 with momentum and game readiness. Prairie View A and M will now face one of the tournament’s most difficult matchups against Florida, a program with championship experience and depth.

What this means moving forward is clear. Prairie View A and M must translate its defensive intensity and balanced scoring into a higher level of execution against a top seeded opponent. Florida’s roster depth and postseason experience will present a significant challenge in the next step of the tournament.

For Lehigh, the loss concludes an 18 - 17 season in which the program showed offensive potential but struggled with consistency against high level competition.

The next steps for Prairie View A and M include a quick turnaround as the Panthers prepare for Friday’s matchup in Tampa. With a historic first win secured and momentum established, the program now enters the Round of 64 aiming to extend its tournament run against the defending champions.