STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Gavin Ware had 15 points and 15 rebounds for his third career double-double as Mississippi State defeated Prairie View A&M 71-56 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Mississippi State had two other players in double figures as well, as I.J. Ready added 14 points in his first collegiate game and Roquez Johnson finished with 11.
Mississippi State opened 8-of-12 from the floor in the first seven minutes to build a double-digit lead. But the Bulldogs then missed seven straight shots and Prairie View cut the lead to 22-17 with just over eight minutes remaining in the half. However, Mississippi State extended the lead 38-28 at the half.
Prairie View did cut the lead to 62-55 with 3:50 left in the game but that was as close as the Panthers would get. Prairie View got outrebounded 51-27. Montrael Scott led the Panthers with 15 points.
