BCSNN | UPI — Prairie View A&M is moving on in March. Powered by dominant performances from Dontae Horne and Cory Wells, the Panthers defeated Lehigh 67–55 in the NCAA First Four on Wednesday night at UD Arena, earning a spot in Friday’s first round against No. 1 seed Florida.

Horne scored a game‑high 25 points to go with seven rebounds and four steals, while Wells delivered a 19‑point, 11‑rebound double‑double. Lance Williams added 10 points, two steals and two blocks as the trio combined for 54 of Prairie View A&M’s 67 points.

The Panthers (19–17) trailed 29–27 at halftime but seized control after the break. Leading 43–41 midway through the second half, Prairie View A&M strung together an 8–0 run capped by a Wells jumper to build a 51–41 advantage with 8:36 remaining. From there, the Panthers maintained separation and closed out the 12‑point win.

Prairie View A&M’s defense set the tone throughout the night. The Panthers forced 16 turnovers while committing just nine, converting those takeaways into 18 points. They held Lehigh to 36.2 percent shooting and recorded nine blocks, controlling the paint on both ends and scoring 22 points inside.

Wells’ double‑double and Horne’s scoring outburst highlighted a balanced effort that pushed Prairie View A&M into the NCAA Tournament’s main bracket for a matchup with top‑seeded Florida on Friday at 9:25 p.m. ET in Tampa.