Air Force opens by topping Western State 65-54

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP)—Grant Parker scored a career-high 26 points and Evan Washington added 14 as Air Force won its seventh straight season opener, defeating Western State 65-54 Friday night.

Air Force never trailed, but the Falcons’ 7-of-27 shooting in the second half allowed the Mountaineers back into the game. Western State tied it twice in the second half, the last time at 50-50 with 4:34 remaining, before the Falcons closed with a 10-2 run.

Parker scored 18 points in the first half, including a 3-pointer in the final seconds that gave the Falcons a 38-27 halftime lead. Parker was a perfect 5-of-5 in the opening half.

Sophomore guard Weylan Towns led the Mountaineers, Air Force?s Division II neighbor from Gunnison, Colo., with 17 points. Tyler Miller contributed 10.