SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Gary Blackston scored 30 points with eight rebounds and four steals and Prairie View A&M defeated Santa Clara 81-64 on Friday night in a season opener for both teams.
Blackston, who led the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring at over 19 points a game last season, was 13 of 21 from the floor and finished two points shy of his career best. He scored 13 points and JC transfer Gerard Andrus had all 14 of his in the first half when the Panthers took a 42-24 lead. A nine-point lead ballooned to 18 over the final five minutes of the half with Andrus scoring six points and Blackston five in the run.