Prairie View downs Alabama St 80-74 on Jones' career night

Feb 25, 2018, 01:47 am

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Dennis Jones scored a career-high 23 points with three steals, Zachary Hamilton and Shaquille Preston scored 15 points apiece, and Prairie View beat Alabama State 80-74 on Saturday to sweep the season series.

Gary Blackston scored 14 points with eight rebounds and five assists and JD Wallace added 10 points with seven boards for the Panthers (12-17, 9-6 Southwestern Athletic Conference), who entered the game tied for third with Texas Southern.

The Hornets twice closed to within a point, but the Panthers found answers and led 62-52 after Hamilton's 3 capped an 8-0 run. Alabama State scored seven straight to close to 66-63, but Prairie View scored seven straight and led 73-63 on Hamilton's 3 with 1:58 to go and the Hornets got no closer than six from there.

Prairie View led 38-32 at halftime after four lead changes and four ties after shooting just 36.1 percent from the floor.

Reginald Gee scored 17 points and Jacoby Ross had 16 for the Hornets (7-20, 7-8), which entered a game out of third.