PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Julian Dunkley connected for 27 points Monday night as the University of Maine men’s basketball team posted a 94-79 victory over Prairie View A&M.

The 3-1 Black Bears won their third straight to close out a series of four consecutive road games.

Coach John Giannini’s team pulled out to an early advantage, then was able to stave off a second-half threat by the Panthers, who slipped to 0-3.

We were very fortunate to get off to a good start, Giannini said. After we got a double-digit lead early, it was pretty even the rest of the way.

Derrick Jackson netted 14 points on 4-for-5 shooting and Errick Greene added 12 points for the Bears, who play host to Alaska-Fairbanks Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Alfond Arena in Orono.

Freshman guard Tory Cavalieri handed out 10 assists for UMaine, which committed only 12 turnovers.

Gregory Burks, a 5-foot-8 guard, poured in 26 points to pace Prairie View. Xavier Lee scored 17 points, while Jamar Miles and Sadit Montgomery chipped in with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

UMaine led by as many as 17 points in the second half before Prairie View threatened. The Panthers actually sliced the lead to 73-67 on a 3-pointer by Burks with 6:50 remaining.

However, Carvell Ammons and Cavalieri each made one free throw, then Cavalieri drained a 3-pointer – his only basket of the game – during a 7-0 spurt that pushed UMaine’s advantage back to 13 at 80-67.

I think we got a little rushed, especially in the second half, said Prairie View coach Elwood Plummer. We were giving up too many easy baskets on the inside. I think that’s what’s hurting us right now.

The Panthers outrebounded the Bears 38-30, but UMaine shot 59 percent from the field in the second half and finished at 52 percent for the game.

Black Bears 94, Panthers 79

Maine (3-1) Prairie View (0-3) Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG F AF TP Greene 4 6 3 4 12 Lee 6 13 0 0 17 Ammons 3 6 2 6 8 Coulter 1 3 0 0 2 Dunkley 10 21 4 4 27 Burks 8 18 7 7 26 Jackson 5 6 2 3 14 Montgomery 4 6 1 2 11 Dye 3 9 0 0 8 Watkins 0 1 0 0 0 Waterman 1 1 0 0 2 Lambert 1 1 1 2 3 Cavalieri 1 6 3 4 6 Tucker 0 0 0 0 0 Tibbetts 0 0 0 0 0 Toney 0 1 0 0 0 Haynes 3 4 1 2 7 O’Steen 0 0 0 0 0 Brown 1 1 2 2 4 Miles 5 9 0 0 12 White 3 3 0 0 6 Walton 2 8 0 0 4

Garwood 1 4 2 2 4 Totals 34 65 17 25 94 Totals 28 64 11 13 79 Maine 46 94 Prairie View 34 79 3-pt. goals: Maine (9-18): Greene 1-1, Ammons 0-1, Dunkley 3-7, Jackson 2-2, Dye 2-5, Cavalieri 1-2; Prairie View (12-25): Lee 5-7, Coulter 0-1, Burks 3-9, Montgomery 2-3, Watkins 0-1, Miles 2-4 Attendance: 1,259