Falcons Get Back Into MWC Play vs. Wyoming
1/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 18
Air Force vs. Wyoming
Date: Saturday, Jan. 27, 1:05 p.m. MST
Site: Clune Arena (6,002), USAFA, CO
Television: ESPN Regional. The game will be broadcast locally on UPN 57 (Chan. 7).
Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs
Notes: Air Force closes out non-conference play this week vs. Texas-Pan American.
Records: Air Force is 5-12 overall and 0-3 in MWC play this season. The Falcons lost, 66-60, at home against Texas-Pan American on Wednesday. Wyoming is 12-4 overall and leads the MWC with a 3-1 mark. The Cowboys defeated BYU, 85-78, in Laramie on Monday.
Coaches: Air Force is coached by Joe Scott (Princeton, 1987), who is in his first season. This season marks Scott's first as a head coach. Scott was an assistant at Princeton from 1993-2000. He helped the Tigers to a 163-61 record. Wyoming is coached by Steve McClain (Chadron State, 1984), who is in his third season. McClain has led the Cowboys to a 49-26 record in his first head coaching job. The coach is 3-1 all-time against Air Force.
Series: Wyoming leads the overall series, 57-19. The Cowboys are 31-8 in Laramie and 26-11 at Air Force.
Looking at Wyoming The Cowboys lead the Mountain West Conference with a 3-1 record. The team is 12-4 overall. Wyoming tied for fourth in the MWC last season with an 8-6 record while finishing 19-12 overall.
Wyoming is a young team. The roster includes just one senior, Brett McFall. Sophomore Marcus Bailey leads the MWC in scoring with a 17.7 average. Junior Josh Davis ranks second on the team in scoring with a 13.1 norm. He leads the MWC in rebounding with a 10.6 average. Two of Wyoming's last three games have gone into overtime and the Cowboys have won both. The team's only loss in conference play came at Utah, 83-71. Wyoming avenged the loss with a 78-77 overtime win over Utah Jan. 20 in Laramie.
The Cowboys are second in the conference in scoring with a 75.1 average. The team leads the league in rebounding with a 44.1 norm.
The Wyoming series
Air Force and Wyoming meet for the 77th time overall. The Cowboys lead the series, 57-19. Wyoming is 31-8 in Laramie and 26-11 at Air Force.
The Cowboys have won 17 of the last 18 in the series dating back to 1991. The Falcons' lone win came last year at Air Force, 82-77, in overtime.
Last year vs. Wyoming
Air Force and Wyoming split a pair of games with each team winning at home.
Air Force 82, Wyoming 79 OT
Feb. 5, 2000 - USAFA, CO
Tyron Wright hit a basket and free throw with three seconds left in overtime to lift Air Force past Wyoming, 82-79, in Clune Arena.
For Wright the hoop was a second chance, as his 10-foot runner at the end of regulation bounced out as time expired. The Falcons used a balanced attack. Lawrence Yazzie came off the bench to score a team-high 22 points. He was six of eight from three-point range. Wright added 20 points and Miguel Garcia chipped in with 10 points. Freshman Tom Bellairs added 13 points and 13 rebounds to set an Academy record for freshmen with his eighth double figure rebounding game of the season.
The game was close throughout, featuring 12 ties and 16 lead changes. The game was tied twice and there was three lead changes in the overtime session.
Wyoming was led by LeDarion Jones, who scored a game-high 30 points. Anthony Blakes added 15 points and seven rebounds. Chris McMillain and Josh Davis chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Wyoming 61, Air Force 51
Feb. 21, 2000 - Laramie, WY
Wyoming used a balanced attack to defeat Air Force, 61-51, in Laramie. The Cowboys broke a 42-42 tie with a 9-3 run to take a 51-45 lead with 4:41 remaining in the game. The Falcons hit just two field goals after that and the Cowboys hit four of four free throws in the final minute to extend the lead to the final margin.
The Falcons were tough throughout, out-rebounding Wyoming 44-37 and held the Cowboys to just 38.5 percent shooting. Unfortunately for AFA, the offense came tough. AFA hit just 31.1 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from the free throw line.
Anthony Blakes and LeDarion Jones each scored 14 points to lead Wyoming. Marcus Bailey and Chris McMillian each added 10 points. Air Force was led by Miguel Garcia, who had 16 points and nine rebounds. He also added a career-best four three-pointers. Tyron Wright chipped in with 11 points while Jarvis Croff had nine.
Statistical comparison
A statistical comparison between the two schools follows:
Category Air Force WyomingGames: 17 16Points: 57.8 75.1Points Allowed: 62.6 68.8FG Pct.: 44.3 42.9FG Pct. Def: 45.0 39.43FG Pct.: 37.1 26.73FG Pct. Def: 34.7 31.6FT Pct.: 66.8 67.2Rebounds: 24.0 44.0Reb. Margin: -7.3 +5.8Assists: 13.3 17.0Turnovers: 14.1 15.2TOs Forced: 13.4 14.8Blocks: 1.8 4.8Steals: 7.4 7.2
Home, finally
Air Force is making just its second appearance in Clune Arena since Jan. 6 when the team posted its biggest victory margin of the season with an 82-57 win over Liberty. The Falcons then played three straight road games. The three trips included a stretch that saw Air Force play six of seven on the road.
The Falcons had won two straight games at home after dropping the first four, prior to the Texas-Pan American game Wednesday.
Falcons settle for a tie
The team could have added another impressive mark in the young Joe Scott era with a victory over Texas-Pan American Wednesday. Air Force could have set a school record with its sixth Division I non-conference win Wednesday.
The Falcons tied the mark of five with their win over Liberty Jan. 6. The last time the team won five Division I games away from league play was 1998 and 1999. The Falcons are playing the first all-Division I schedule in school history this season.
Earlier this week vs. UTPA
John Braxton scored 14 points and Mire Chatman added 13 off the bench as Texas-Pan American defeated Air Force, 66-60, Wednesday night in a nonconference game in Clune Arena.
The victory is the first on the road for UTPA this season in 10 chances and prevents Air Force from setting a record for non-conference Division I wins in a season.
Texas-Pan American closed the first half on a 16-0 run to erase a nine-point deficit and take a 35-28 halftime lead. The run spilled over into the second half, as UTPA scored the first four points of the second stanza to take its biggest lead of the night, 39-28, with 18:37 remaining. The Falcons would have to play catch up the rest of the night.
"We should have never been in the position we were in during the second half," Air Force head coach Joe Scott said. "The last three minutes of the first half we played like we did in November. We just through the ball away for no reason."
Robert Todd and Tom Bellairs each scored three points during an 8-2 Air Force run to cut the lead to 49-48 with 5:33 remaining in the game, but the Falcons could never overtake the visitors. UTPA countered the run with a 9-2 spurt to take a 58-50 lead with 3:41 left. UTPA hit six of eight free throws in the final 37 seconds to secure the win.
Texas-Pan American finished the game hitting 75.0 percent from the free throw line. The team only hit 43.5 percent from the field, but forced 13 turnovers while turning it over just seven times.
Air Force was led by Lamoni Yazzie, who scored 16 points. Bellairs recorded his first double-double of the season and ninth of his career with 12 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Vernard Jenkins chipped in with 11 points and Joel Gerlach added nine. Air Force's leading scorer Jarvis Croff, who entered the game with a 14.8 average, was held scoreless for the first time in his career. The senior forward missed all four field goal attempts in 19 minutes of action.
Air Force falls to 5-12 overall. The Falcons have lost four consecutive games and five of the last six.
"Our players have to make a commitment to give of themselves more," Scott said. "You do that by going out on the court and playing for your teammates. Not everyone in this program is doing that. If we're going to be a winning program, we need to build around guys like Gerlach and Yazzie because of their human qualities. They play for their teammates."
Shooting woes
Since entering conference play, the Falcons have struggled with their shooting. The team improved a little vs. Texas-Pan American, but is still far below its season mark the last four games.
The team is hitting just 35.9 percent from the field, including a 25.2 clip from three-point range the last four games. Those numbers are down considerably from the 44.4 overall mark and 37.1 long-range percentage. Air Force headed into conference play hitting 46.6 percent from the field and 40.5 from beyond the arc.
The Falcons hit just 40.0 percent from the field at UNLV, including 25.0 from three-point range. Against New Mexico, the Falcons hit just 36.4 and 25.9 percent, respectively. Air Force hit season lows at San Diego State last week with 25.5 percent from the field and 20.0 percent from three-point range. The team hit 43.9 percent from the field and 32.0 percent from three against Texas-Pan American.
Sweet 60s
Air Force has been stingy on defense. On the season, the Falcons are 5-4 when holding opponents to under 60 points. Air Force is 0-8 when opponents top the 60-point mark.
Facts and figures
To say the Joe Scott era at Air Force has started with a bang would be an understatement. It has brought about some significant accomplishments already this season. The list follows:
- Scott picked up his first collegiate win as Air Force defeated Houston, 59-53, in the season opener at the Black Coaches Association Classic at Wake Forest. The win is Air Force's first on the road to open a season since 1983 and just the third ever. The win away from home against a team from a major conference is the first since Air Force beat Auburn, 48-46, in 1980.
- Air Force overcame a 20-point second half deficit to beat Central Connecticut State, 63-56, in overtime Dec. 12. The deficit is the largest overcome by an Air Force team in 15 years. Incomplete Air Force records prevent a further search.
- The Falcons' victory over Cornell Dec. 29 was the team's third consecutive win. Air Force had not had three straight wins over Division I teams since 1990. In fact, the last time AFA posted back-to-back Division I wins was 1995.
- Air Force has three wins away from Clune Arena this season which is already more more than all of last season. The three away wins are the most since 1998.
- Air Force finished second at the Gossner Foods Classic at Utah State. The second place finish is the second in two tournaments for the Falcons this season. Air Force has just seven second place finishes and one championship all-time in school history.
- Air Force defeated Liberty, 82-57, Jan. 6 to record two more impressive milestones. The 25-point win is the biggest for the Falcons over a Division I team since beating San Diego State, 81-53, in 1995. The victory is the largest over a Division I non-conference team since beating Portland, 96-65, in 1993. Air Force placed six players in double figures in the game which is the most in 25 years. Incomplete records prevent a further search.
The long and short of it
Air Force carried a strange streak into the second half of the Denver game Dec. 22. The Falcons had gone 117:50 game minutes with all their field goals being either three-pointers or layups. It wasn't until a hook shot by Josh Wallace at the 12:25 mark in the second half that the string was broken. Wallace also hit the last one before the string, a hook with 5:15 left against Lehigh Dec. 5. In the little over 2.5 games, the Falcons hit 48 field goals. The breakdown was 32 three-pointers and 16 layups.
For the season, 84.0 percent of Air Force's field goals are layups or treys. The team hit nothing but three-pointers and layups in the South Carolina State and Central Connecticut State games earlier this season.
Bring on overtime
Air Force seems to like playing in overtime games. Counting the exhibition game over Lithuania, Air Force has played two overtime games this season. The team beat Lithuania, 100-97, and Central Connecticut State, 63-56. Air Force has out-scored its opponents 26-16, including 9-0 in the final minute. The Falcons have shot 63.6 percent (7-11) from the field, including 62.5 percent (5-8) from three-point range. Air Force has held its opponents to a 41.6 clip (5-12) from the field. The Falcons have also hit 70.0 percent (7-10) from the free throw line in the extra session.
Defensive scoring average best since 1984
Air Force's controlled tempo and emphasis on defense has posted numbers not seen in quite a while. Opponents are scoring just 62.6 points per game which is the lowest since 1984 when foes scored just 61.0.
This is Air Force basketball
It's a whole new ballgame at Air Force. There are several categories that key Air Force's style. A closer look at some of the trends to keep an eye on follow:
- The Falcons average 6.9 layups per game and 36.0 percent of their field goals on the year are layups. A game-by-game breakdown follows:
Houston 6 New Mexico 4Wake Forest 8 San Diego St. 4Long Beach St. 9 UT-Pan Am. 8 Denver 8No. Arizona 8Navy 9Lehigh 7So. Carolina St. 3Cent. Conn. St. 8Denver 7Cornell 7Utah State 6Liberty 5UNLV 10New Mexico 4 Total 117
- Air Force has hit 156 three-pointers this season and 48.0 percent of the teams field goals have come from beyond the arc. The team had a season-high 82.4 percent of its field goals from long range at South Carolina State, hitting 14 of 17. The team has had 50 percent or more come from down town in seven games this season.
A game-by-game breakdown follows:
Game Total 3's Pct.Houston 17 11 64.7 Wake Forest 14 5 35.7Long Beach St. 29 15 51.7Denver 20 9 45.0No. Arizona 21 9 42.9Navy 21 6 28.5Lehigh 21 8 39.0So. Carolina St. 17 14 82.4Central Conn. St. 19 11 57.9Denver 18 7 38.9Cornell 20 11 55.0Utah State 18 12 66.7Liberty 25 11 44.0UNLV 18 5 27.7New Mexico 16 7 43.8San Diego State 13 7 53.8UT-Pan American 18 8 44.4Totals 325 156 48.0
- The team is assisting on 69.5 percent of its field goals on the season. The team has 226 assists on 325 field goals. Air Force assisted on 15 of 17 field goals vs. Houston and 25 of 29 at Long Beach State. Against South Carolina State, the team assisted on 14 of 17 field goals. Against Utah State, the Falcons assisted on 16 of 18. The team assisted on 20 of 25 vs. Liberty.
Did you know ....
- Air Force's 15 three-pointers at Long Beach State is the most by a team in the MWC this season.
- Air Force's 25 assists at Long Beach State are the most by a team in the MWC this season.
- Tom Bellairs has nine career double-doubles to rank fourth among actice MWC players despite playing in just 40 games.
- Bellairs is fourth in the MWC this season with four double-figure rebounding games, despite playing in just 12 games.
- Freshman Robert Todd's 90.9 percent shooting (10-11) vs. Long Beach State is the best in a single game in the MWC this season. Todd scored a career-best 25 points in the game. Todd's 90.9 percent ranks fourth in Air Force history.
- Todd hit 5-6 three-pointers in the Long Beach State game. That 83.3 percent clip is the best in the conference this season.
Todd's record-setting night
Freshman Robert Todd scored a career-high 25 points at Long Beach State earlier this season. His 25 points are the most by an Air Force freshman since Raymond Dudley scored 28 vs. New Mexico in 1987. Todd hit 10-11 field goals in the game, including 5-6 three-pointers. His 10 field goals tie a MWC freshman record. Todd also set a new MWC rookie mark for three-point field goal percentage (83.3) in the game.
Bellairs rebounds
Sophomore forward Tom Bellairs is quickly becoming one of the top rebounders in Air Force history. The Denver, Colo., native has nine career double-doubles and 16 career double figure rebounding games after his 12-point, 12-rebound game Wednesday vs. Texas-Pan American.
He was second in the conference last year with a 9.2 rebounding average. His second place finish is the best by a Falcon in school history.
Bellairs' impact is even bigger this season. Since his return against Navy, Bellairs has posted three double-figure rebounding efforts while leading the team in rebounding in 10 of 12 games. His impact has really been felt on the offensive end. In the 12 games he's played, Bellairs has grabbed 28 of the team's 76 offensive rebounds.
Air Force seventh nationally in three-pointers made per game
The Falcons average 9.3 made three-pointers per game to lead the Mountain West Conference and rank seventh nationally. The team has hit nine or more in eight games. Air Force has hit 10 or more six times this season, including a season-high 15 vs. Long Beach State which is a school record vs. a Division I opponent.
# Team G 3's Avg.1. Duke 16 166 10.42. Samford 16 164 10.33. TCU 17 167 9.84. Georgia Tech 15 143 9.55. Wisc.-Milw. 16 151 9.46. Belmont 16 150 9.47. Air Force 16 148 9.3Stats are of Jan. 23
Todd, Croff tops in MWC in three-pointers -- Todd 18th nationally
Freshman Robert Todd and senior Jarvis Croff rank first and second, respectively, in the Mountain West Conference in three-pointers made per game. Todd averages 2.7 per game while Croff is at 2.4.
Todd is among the national leaders in three-point field goal percentage. The rookie is third in the league and 15th nationally with a 47.4 mark.
Youth served
Air Force has started at least two freshman in nine of 16 games this season. Center Josh Wallace has started nine games, forward Joel Gerlach eight, Robert Todd five and guard A.J. Kuhle five. Kuhle make his first career start against Northern Arizona, joining both Wallace and Todd in the starting lineup.
For the season, freshmen are averaging 35.7 percent of the team's total minutes. When you throw in sophomores Vernard Jenkins and Tom Bellairs, 65.8 percent of the team's total minutes are from freshmen and sophomores.
Croff joins 1,000-point club
Senior Jarvis Croff became the 15th Falcon to join the 1,000-point club at the Academy against Utah State Dec. 30. Croff is the first Falcon since Mike Freeman in 1998 to join the club. The Beaumont, Texas, native ranks 11th in school history with 1,074 points. Croff needs 26 points to break into the top 10 all-time.
Career Scoring Leaders at Air Force# Name, Years Points1. Raymond Dudley, 1987-90 2,1785. Jarmica Reese, 1995-98 1,3856. Cliff Parsons, 1967-69 1,3747. Rick Simmons, 1980-83 1,3208. Tom Schneeberger, 1975-78 1,2049. Maurice McDonald, 1983-86 1,12110. Randy Gricius, 1976-79 1,10011. Jarvis Croff, 1999-Pres. 1,074
Croff seventh in career scoring average
Senior Jarvis Croff is seventh all-time in Air Force history in career scoring average with a 15.6 mark.
Bob Beckel is Air Force's career leader with a 22.8 mark. A closer look at the career leaders follows:
# Name, Years Gms Avg1. Bob Beckel, 1956-59 67 22.82. Raymond Dudley, 1987-90 109 20.03. Cliff Parsons, 1966-69 71 19.44. Otis Jones, 1992-95 110 18.25 Tyron Wright, 1999-00 54 15.96. Tim Harris, 1977-81 99 15.77. Jarvis Croff, 1999-01 69 15.6
2000-01 Schedule Notes
Air Force is playing the first all-Division I schedule in school history this season. The schedule features 10 teams that played in the post-season last year, including six NCAA teams and four NIT teams.
The schedule also features eighth-ranked Wake Forest from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Utah has been ranked this season while Wyoming and Brigham Young of the MWC have also received mention in national polls.
Air Force is one of just two teams in the MWC that has not played a non-Division I team. Brigham Young is the other. The Falcons are one of just three teams to play a nationally-ranked team. UNLV and Utah are the others. The Falcons are the only MWC team to play a team in the top 10.
Todd could join elite company
Freshman Robert Todd is second on the team in scoring with an 11.2 average. He and senior Jarvis Croff have exchanged the lead all year. Todd could become the first freshman since Raymond Dudley in 1987 to lead the team in scoring for the season. Dudley averaged 13.6 in 1987 and is the only freshman ever to lead the team in scoring.
Todd has led the team in scoring three games this season and has hit double figures 12 times.
Field goal percentage best in over a decade
Air Force's field goal percentage of 44.3 is the best since the 1988-89 team hit 47.7 percent to rank second all-time at the school. Only the 1969-70 team's 49.0 percent is better. This season's 44.3 mark is the 10th best in Air Force history.
A closer look at the school's top field goal percentages for a single season follow:
# Year Fg-Fga Pct.1. 1970 663-1353 49.02. 1989 731-1494 47.7 1979 645-1351 47.74. 1966 767-1614 47.55. 1987 716-1510 47.46. 1978 720-1549 46.57. 1981 609-1313 46.48. 1988 743-1628 45.99. 1985 743-1628 45.610. 2001 325-733 44.3
Falcons picked eighth
Air Force was picked to finish eighth in the conference at the Mountain West Conference Media Day in October by the league's media. Utah was picked first, followed by Wyoming, UNLV, BYU, New Mexico, Colorado State and San Diego State. The Falcons were also picked eighth in most national magazines. Only Dick Vitale's College Basketball had Air Force picked higher (seventh).
