Tuesday, January 17
USAFA, CO - Clune Arena
7:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
82
vs
74
Wyoming
Photo by: @LAURADOMINGUE
Air Force Rallies To 82-74 Win Over Wyoming
1/17/2023 10:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force men's basketball (12-7, 2-3 MW) rallied from a double-digit deficit for the second-straight game to defeat Wyoming (5-13, 0-6 MW), 82-74, in a Mountain West game Tuesday night at Clune Arena. The Falcons extend their win streak to three games, led by 23 points by sophomore forward Beau Becker.
Air Force overcame another slow start and found a way to win again.
The Falcons struggled to find their shot early on, going 1 for 11 from the field to start the game. Wyoming went ahead by double digits just six minutes in and led by 12 at 22-10 at the 8:41 mark. Air Force got back in the game by closing the half on a 16-7 spurt to trail by just four at the break, 36-32. Wyoming shot 56 percent from the field in the opening half, holding a 22-12 advantage in points in the paint. Air Force rebounded to shoot 41 percent.
In the second half, the Falcons out-scored the Cowboys 50-38, while shooting 65 percent from the field. Highlighting the rally was three straight three's to open the second half by Becker. The third three gave Air Force a 41-38 lead.
After Wyoming came back to retake two brief leads, the Falcons took the lead for good on a jumper by Jake Heidbreder with 14:43 to play. The Falcons then went up by double-digits before Wyoming began to come back. The Cowboys got the game back down to five points with 1:22 to play. Carter Murphy then converted a bucket and foul to put the Falcons back up eight with 50 second to play. Air Force was able to close out the game for its first three-game conference win streak since 2019.
Air Force shot 53 percent for the game and 40 percent from three-point range. The Falcons were over 80 percent from the free throw line for the third-straight game, making 84 percent. It was its second straight game rallying back from a double digit lead. The Falcons also trailed by 12 points in the win at Fresno State.
Becker, who's previous high for points was 10, connected on 5 of 11 three's. He scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half.
Freshman Rytis Petraitis and seniors Carter Murphy and Camden Vander Zwaag also reached double figures. Petraitis scored 15 points, to go with nine rebounds and five assists. Murphy scored 11 points off the bench, making 5 of 6 from the line. Vander Zwaag scored 10 points, with two big three's at the end of the first half.
Guard Noah Reynolds led Wyoming with 26 points. Guard Ethan Anderson added 14 points. Wyoming shot 55 percent from the field and held a 42-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Air Force returns to action Saturday, Jan. 21, hosting San Diego State. Tip time is 8 pm MT and the game will be broadcast by CBS Sports.
Air Force overcame another slow start and found a way to win again.
The Falcons struggled to find their shot early on, going 1 for 11 from the field to start the game. Wyoming went ahead by double digits just six minutes in and led by 12 at 22-10 at the 8:41 mark. Air Force got back in the game by closing the half on a 16-7 spurt to trail by just four at the break, 36-32. Wyoming shot 56 percent from the field in the opening half, holding a 22-12 advantage in points in the paint. Air Force rebounded to shoot 41 percent.
In the second half, the Falcons out-scored the Cowboys 50-38, while shooting 65 percent from the field. Highlighting the rally was three straight three's to open the second half by Becker. The third three gave Air Force a 41-38 lead.
After Wyoming came back to retake two brief leads, the Falcons took the lead for good on a jumper by Jake Heidbreder with 14:43 to play. The Falcons then went up by double-digits before Wyoming began to come back. The Cowboys got the game back down to five points with 1:22 to play. Carter Murphy then converted a bucket and foul to put the Falcons back up eight with 50 second to play. Air Force was able to close out the game for its first three-game conference win streak since 2019.
Air Force shot 53 percent for the game and 40 percent from three-point range. The Falcons were over 80 percent from the free throw line for the third-straight game, making 84 percent. It was its second straight game rallying back from a double digit lead. The Falcons also trailed by 12 points in the win at Fresno State.
Becker, who's previous high for points was 10, connected on 5 of 11 three's. He scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half.
Freshman Rytis Petraitis and seniors Carter Murphy and Camden Vander Zwaag also reached double figures. Petraitis scored 15 points, to go with nine rebounds and five assists. Murphy scored 11 points off the bench, making 5 of 6 from the line. Vander Zwaag scored 10 points, with two big three's at the end of the first half.
Guard Noah Reynolds led Wyoming with 26 points. Guard Ethan Anderson added 14 points. Wyoming shot 55 percent from the field and held a 42-24 advantage in points in the paint.
Air Force returns to action Saturday, Jan. 21, hosting San Diego State. Tip time is 8 pm MT and the game will be broadcast by CBS Sports.