Falcons Head to Las Vegas for MWC Tournament
3/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Game 29: Air Force vs. Brigham Young
Date: Thursday, March 8, 3:30 p.m. MST
Site: Thomas&Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV
Television: ESPN Regional (UPN 57, Ch. 7 in Colorado Springs).
Radio: KVOR AM 740 in Colorado Springs
Notes: For the second straight year, Air Force opens MWC Tournament play against the team it closed the regular season with. Last year it was Utah.
Records: Air Force is 8-20 overall and finished eighth in the MWC with a 3-11 record. BYU is 21-8 overall and finished in a three-way tie for the MWC championship with a 10-4 record.
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.
BYU is coached by Steve Cleveland (UC Irvine, 1976), who is in his fourth season. Cleveland has led the Cougars to a 64-56 record. He coached at Fresno City College for seven seasons before going to BYU.
Series: BYU leads the overall series 37-7. The Cougars hold a 35-6 lead in conference games. BYU holds a 2-1 record vs. Air Force is conference tournament play. The two are meeting in the tournament for the first time since 1992.
Quick facts
Air Force is 4-14 overall in conference tournament play. The team has lost eight consecutive tournament games dating back to 1990. Air Force is 1-2 all-time against BYU in conference tournament play.
The field
The MWC tournament seeds follow:
1. Utah 5. Colorado State2. BYU 6. San Diego State3. Wyoming 7. Air Force4. New Mexico UNLV is not eligible to playAFA tournament history
Air Force has a 4-14 conference tournament record. The Falcons are 1-0 at home, 1-4 on the road and 2-10 in neutral site games. The Falcons have lost eight consecutive tournament games dating back to 1990. Air Force's last win came in 1990 in El Paso, Texas, when the ninth-seeded Falcons pulled off the biggest upset in WAC tournament history with a stunning 58-51 win over top-seeded Colorado State. The win propelled the Falcons into the semifinals for the first and only time in school history. The team got to the quarterfinal matchup against the Rams after beating San Diego State, 70-64, in overtime in the preliminary round.
Air Force is 3-11 all-time in opening round games. The Falcons have lost to the eventual tournament champion twice -- 1990 vs. UTEP in El Paso and 1992 vs. BYU in Fort Collins. Air Force is 1-1 in overtime games in tournament action.
Raymond Dudley and Jeff Bowling are the only two Falcons to be named to the all-tournament team. They each earned the the honor in 1990.
Inside the numbersSeeds by Air Force6th 1 (1989)7th 3 (1997, 2000, 2001)8th 3 (1986, 1988, 1992)9th 4 (1984, 1985, 1990, 1991)10th 4 (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)Record vs. SeedsNo. 1 1-2No. 2 0-2No. 3 0-1No. 4 0-1No. 5 1-1No. 6 0-1No. 7 0-4No. 8 1-1No. 9 1-1No. 10 0-0Air Force vs. MWC TeamsBYU 1-2Colorado State 1-2UNLV 0-0New Mexico 0-1San Diego State 1-2Utah 0-2Wyoming 0-1AFA has a 1-2 record vs. Hawaii and an 0-2 mark vs. UTEP, the only teams AirForce has played outside the MWC.Air Force conference tournament recordsTeamMost Points 82 vs. BYU, 1987Fewest Points 51 vs. BYU, 1992Largest Victory Margin 7 (58-51) vs. CSU, 1990Biggest Loss Margin 21 (72-51) vs. BYU, 1992Most Points Win 82 vs. BYU, 1985Most Points Loss 79 vs. BYU, 1987IndividualPoints1. 31, Jarvis Croff vs. Utah, 20002. 29, Chris Loll vs. Colorado State, 19953. 28, Raymond Dudley vs. Colorado State, 19904. 26, Jeff Bowling vs. San Diego State, 19905. 25, Eric Kjome vs. BYU, 1987Rebounds1. 10, Chad Kimble vs. Hawaii, 19882. 9, Mike Lockwood vs. BYU, 1987 9, Maurice McDonald vs. Wyoming, 1986 9, Jon Jordan vs. Utah, 1985 9, Omar Simpson vs. BYU, 1992Assists1. 9, Jeff Bowling vs. San Diego State, 19902. 7, Jeff Bowling vs. Colorado State, 19903. 6, Reggie Minton vs. Colorado State, 1995Air Force Point marginsPoints Win Loss1 0 0 2 0 23 1 24 0 05 0 16 2 07 1 18 0 29 0 210 0 011-15 0 316-20 0 0 21+ 0 1A look back at the magical 1990 tournament
Air Force made a run at the tournament title in 1990 in El Paso, Texas. Nobody paid much attention to Air Force heading into the tournament. The team was 10-19 and had played most of the season with an injured all-conference performer in Raymond Dudley. The senior was getting healthy as the tournament approached. The ninth-seeded Falcons upset eighth-seeded San Diego State, 70-64, in overtime in the preliminary round. The team then faced top-seeded Colorado State in the quarterfinals. Air Force pulled off the biggest upset in tournament history with a 58-51 win over the Rams. The win put the Falcons into the school's first-ever semifinal round. AFA's magic finally ran out as UTEP beat Air Force, 57-54, and went on to win the tournament. Dudley and backcourt mate Jeff Bowling were each named to the all-tournament team.
Looking at BYU
Brigham Young joins Utah and Wyoming as tri-champions of the MWC this season with a 10-4 record. BYU has the conference's top overall record at 21-8.
BYU is led by its big three -- Mekeli Wesley, Terrell Lyday and Trent Whiting. Wesley leads the team in scoring and rebounding with averages of 16.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Lyday is second in scoring at 15.9 while Whiting is third at 14.3.
BYU is second in the conference in scoring margin with an 8.6 mark. The Cougars lead the conference in scoring defense with a 62.1 average. BYU also leads the league in free throw percentage at 77.7.
The BYU series
BYU leads the overall series, 37-7, and hold a 35-6 mark in conference games. The Cougars are 20-4 at home, 16-3 at Air Force and 1-0 in neutral site games. The teams first played Dec. 18, 1961 in Provo. Air Force won the game, 68-66.
This week's meeting will be the fourth between Air Force and BYU in conference tournament action. BYU holds a 2-1 advantage. Air Force won the first meeting, 82-79, in Provo in 1985. The Cougars have won the last two. BYU won, 82-79, in overtime in 1987 and were 72-51 winners in 1992 in Fort Collins, Colo.
Statistical comparisonCategory Air Force BYUGames: 28 29Points: 57.6 70.7Points Allowed: 62.8 62.1FG Pct.: 43.2 45.6 FG Pct. Def: 47.5 40.73FG Pct.: 35.7 36.23FG Pct. Def: 34.4 31.1FT Pct.: 69.8 77.7Rebounds: 23.0 32.7Assists: 12.7 12.7Turnovers: 13.2 13.9Blocks: 1.8 3.3Steals: 7.4 6.5MWC's top defensive units do battle this week
When Air Force and BYU play this week the league's top two defensive units will square off. BYU leads the conference with a 62.1 points allowed average. Air Force is second at 62.8.
This year vs. BYU
Brigham Young swept the season series with Air Force. The Cougars defeated Air Force, 62-45, Feb. 1 in Provo. BYU then beat the Falcons, 51-50, last week (March 3) at the Academy. For a closer look at the individual games, please turn to the game recaps at the end of this release.
Air Force in neutral site games
Air Force is 2-0 this season in neutral site games. The Falcons defeated Houston, 59-53, in the season opener at the Black Coaches Association Classic at Wake Forest. Air Force also beat Cornell, 63-51, in the opening round of the Gossner Foods Classic in Logan, Utah.
Air Force has scored 61.0 points per game while allowing just 52.0 on neutral floors. Air Force has hit 47.4 percent from the field and 42.3 percent from three-point range. Defensively, the Falcons have allowed just 38.4 percent shooting from the field, including just an 18.5 clip from beyond the arc.
Jarvis Croff is the team's top scorer, averaging 23.5 points in the two games. Lamoni Yazzie is second at 9.0.
Last week
Air Force split a pair of games last week. The Falcons defeated Utah, 71-60, March 1 and lost to Brigham Young, 51-50, March 3. Both games were played in Clune Arena.
Air Force vs. BYU
Terrell Lyday hit two free throws with 5.8 seconds remaining to lift Brigham Young past Air Force, 51-50, in Clune Arena. Air Force's last chance fell short as a three-pointer by Lamoni Yazzie missed as time expired.
Air Force opened the second half with a 14-4 run to take a 40-30 lead with 12:09 remaining. The Cougars battled back with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to two, 40-38, with 7:46 remaining. BYU later took its first lead of the half and only its second of the game, 48-46, on a pair of free throws by Trent Whiting with 1:38 remaining. Tom Bellairs answered with a lay up for Air Force to tie the game with 1:12 left.
Mekeli Wesley added a free throw to put BYU back in front, 49-48, with 44.7 seconds left. Bellairs again answered for the Falcons, as he was fouled while hitting a jumper with 17.3 seconds remaining. He missed the free throw to make it 50-49 before Lyday won it for BYU.
Wesley finished with a game-high 25 points to lead the Cougars. Lyday added 11 points. The pair combined to hit 15 of 18 free throws in the game, as BYU hit 20 of 23 for the game. Air Force shot just eight free throws, making six.
Jarvis Croff and Joel Gerlach scored 12 points each for Air Force. Yazzie chipped in with 11 while Bellairs had eight and matched his career high with six assists. Air Force hit 43.6 percent from the field while BYU hit 46.7 percent. The teams each had 21 rebounds.
The Cougars improve to 21-8 overall and 10-4 in the MWC. Air Force falls to 8-20 overall and 3-11 in the league.
"I think we're playing well right now," Air Force head coach Joe Scott said. "There is no reason that when we go to Las Vegas (for the conference tournament) next week, we don't go there thinking we're going to win games. We can beat any team that we'll play in the tournament."
Air Force vs. Utah
Air Force played its most complete game of the year and the result was a victory over first-place Utah, 71-60, in Clune Arena.
The Falcons had a balanced attack the entire game. Sophomore Tom Bellairs led the Falcons with 19 points, eight rebounds and a career-high six assists. Jarvis Croff chipped in with 15 points on a perfect night from the floor. Croff hit 4-4 field goals, including 3-3 three-pointers. Joel Gerlach and Lamoni Yazzie each contributed 11 points, while Vernard Jenkins had eight points, five assists and a game-high three steals.
Air Force was solid throughout, never relinquishing the lead. The Falcons methodically built a 36-27 halftime lead behind 64.7 percent shooting. The lead was the team's first at the half in a MWC game this season.
The Falcons opened the second half with a 10-4 spurt to take their biggest lead of the game, 46-31, with 15:26 remaining. Utah answered with a 15-5 run to cut the lead to five points, 51-46, with 7:51 remaining. Utah later cut the lead to four, 56-52, with 4:52 remaining, but couldn't get any closer.
Air Force sealed the win by hitting 11 of 12 free throws in the final 1:24. The team finished the game hitting a season-best 95.7 percent (22-23) which is the third best single-game effort in school history. Air Force finished the game shooting 55.3 percent from the field, including 46.7 from beyond the arc. The team also out-rebounded Utah, 22-20, marking just the third time in the last 60 conference games the Utes have been out-rebounded.
Utah was led by Jeff Johnsen, who scored 16 points. Chris Burgess added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. The Utes fall to 18-10 overall and 9-4 in the MWC.
Air Force notched its first win over a first-place team since beating UTEP, 75-72, in 1992. The victory also snaps a 10-game losing streak to Utah and improves the team to 3-3 at home in MWC play. Air Force also won for the first time this season when allowing 60 or more points.
Scoring defense
Air Force is second in the MWC in scoring defense with a 62.8 average. The Falcons are giving up just 63.2 per game in conference meetings.
Air Force's controlled tempo and emphasis on defense has posted numbers not seen in quite a while. The opponent's scoring average of 62.8 is the lowest since 1984 when foes scored just 61.0.
Todd to miss rest of season
Air Force freshman Robert Todd will miss the remainder of the season due to a violation of Academy rules. Due to the Privacy Act, the Academy is unable to release or comment on the specifics.
Todd is unable to represent the Academy due to the suspension, which is indefinite. The Titusville, Fla., native is still in school and may practice with the team.
"We're very disappointed for Robert," Air Force head coach Joe Scott said. "This is a tremendous loss for our team. We'll really miss his scoring, rebounding and shooting, not to mention all the things he does that don't show up in the statistics."
Todd ranked second on the team and 20th in the Mountain West Conference in scoring this season with a 10.7 average. Todd led the MWC with 2.52 made three-pointers per game and and in three-point field goal percentage with a 45.7 mark. Todd's 45.7 mark established a new Academy single-season record.
His best night of the season came against Long Beach State Nov. 21 when he scored a career-high 25 points on 10-of-11 shooting, including five-of-six from three-point range. Todd set MWC freshman records with his shooting in the LBSU game.
Todd played 21 games overall, starting five. He averaged 27.4 minutes per game while posting 13 double figure scoring efforts.
Shooting much improved
Air Force has hit 45.0 percent from the field and 36.3 from beyond the arc the last eight games.
Those numbers are up considerably from the previous seven games. Since entering conference play, the Falcons had struggled with their shooting. Air Force hit 31.3 percent from the field and 25.4 percent from three-point range during in its first six MWC games (plus one non-conference game).
The last eight games Opponent FG Pct 3FG PctUtah 18-42 42.9 10-22 45.5New Mexico 18-34 52.9 5-14 35.7UNLV 27-55 49.1 11-29 37.9San Diego St. 16-42 38.1 10-32 31.3Wyoming 22-46 47.8 8-21 69.2Colorado State 16-48 33.3 5-25 20.0Utah 21-38 55.3 7-15 46.7BYU 17-39 43.6 10-24 41.7Totals 155-344 45.0 66-182 36.3First six MWC games 31.3 25.450s key to winning
Keeping the opponents under 60 points per game this season has been the key to winning for Air Force. The Falcons are 1-16 this season when the opponent scores 60 or more points. The team is 7-4 on the year when holding its opponent under 60 points per game. The only game Air Force has won giving up 60 or more was vs. Utah, 71-60, March 1.
Air Force's 45 points allowed vs. Colorado State is the fewest allowed by the team this season. It's also the fewest allowed in a conference game by Air Force since beating San Diego State, 55-43, in 1984. The 45 points is the fourth fewest allowed in Air Force's 21 years of conference play.
Free throw shooting
Air Force was near-perfect from the free throw line against Utah on March 1. The Falcons hit 95.7 percent on 22 of 23 shooting which is the third-best single-game effort in school history. In the last nine games, Air Force has hit 76.4 percent (123-161) from the charity stripe.
The team has hit 70 percent or better in six of the last nine games. Since entering conference play, Air Force has topped the 70-percent mark in nine of 14 games. The team has hit 80 percent or better three times in MWC play.
Overall this season, Air Force ranks second in the conference in free throw percentage with a 69.8 mark. That mark ranks eighth all-time in school history.
Top single-season free throw percentages at AFA# Pct. Year1. 77.0 19912. 74.8 1992 74.8 19904. 73.2 19635. 72.4 19706. 70.2 19897. 70.0 19938. 69.8 2001 69.8 196610. 69.7 1960Facts 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 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.
- Air Force tied the mark for non-conference Division I wins this season with five. The team tied the mark set in 1998 and 1999.
- Air Force's 45 points allowed vs. Colorado State is the fewest allowed in a conference game by Air Force since beating San Diego State, 55-43, in 1984. The 45 points is the fourth fewest allowed in Air Force's 21 years of conference play.
Falcons shatter school record for three-pointers made
Air Force hit 10 three-pointers against BYU in the regular season finale to shatter the single-season school record for three-pointers made. Air Force has hit 240 treys this season to break the record of 233 set in 1999. Air Force leads the MWC in three-pointers made with an 8.6 average. That mark ranks 15th nationally.
Air Force does it again
Air Force has posted three games this season where every made field goal was either a three-pointer or a lay up. The Falcons did it Feb. 17 against New Mexico with 18 field goals coming on five three-pointers and a season-high 13 lay ups. Air Force has also done it against South Carolina State (17 FGs, 14 three-pointers, three lay ups) and Central Connecticut State (19 FGs, 11 three-pointers, 8 lay ups). The team is 2-1 when doing so with the only loss coming at SCSU, 65-53.
The team carried a 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, 84.9 percent of Air Force's field goals are layups or treys.
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 7.4 layups per game and 39.2 percent of their field goals on the year are layups.
- Air Force has hit 240 three-pointers this season and 45.7 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 10 games this season.
- The team is assisting on 67.6 percent of its field goals on the season. The team has 355 assists on 525 field goals. Some of the top performances follow (assists-field goals): Houston (15-17), Long Beach State (25-29), South Carolina State (14-17), Utah State (16-18), Liberty (20-25), San Diego State (14-16) and BYU (15-17).
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.
- 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 / season
Freshman Robert Todd scored a career-high 25 points at Long Beach State earlier this season. 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.
Todd set a new single-season school record for three-point field goal percentage with a 45.7 mark. He broke the record of Raymond Dudley, who hit 43.8 percent in 1987 and 1989.
Gerlach's 26 best by AFA rookie since 1987
Joel Gerlach scored a career-high 26 points on 9-13 shooting against Wyoming Feb. 24. His 26 points are the most by an Air Force freshman since Raymond Dudley scored 28 against New Mexico in 1987.
Gerlach has come on lately for Air Force. He is averaging 8.5 points per game overall. That average has jumped to 10.8 points per game in conference contests. He has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games.
Todd / Gerlach top freshmen scorers in MWC
Air Force rookies Robert Todd and Joel Gerlach are the top two freshmen scorers in the MWC this season. Todd leads the way with a 10.7 mark while Gerlach is at 8.5 Utah's Nick Jacobson is third in the league with a 7.8 average.
Bellairs becomes quickest Falcon to 400 career rebounds
Sophomore forward Tom Bellairs is quickly becoming one of the top rebounders in Air Force history. The Denver, Colo., native has 10 career double-doubles and 17 career double figure rebounding games. He had 12 points and 12 rebounds vs. UT-Pan American and 12 points and 13 rebounds vs. Wyoming.
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 five double-figure rebounding efforts while leading the team in rebounding in 18 of 23 games. Bellairs is fifth in the league in rebounding this season with a 7.3 average.
He grabbed eight rebounds against UNLV Feb. 17 to reach the 400-mark for his career. He is the quickest Falcon to grab 400 career rebounds, doing it in just 46 games.
For his career, Bellairs has 452 points and 428 rebounds.
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.
Air Force 15th nationally in three-pointers made per game
The Falcons average 8.6 made three-pointers per game to lead the Mountain West Conference and rank 15th nationally. The team has hit nine or more in 13 games. Air Force has hit 10 or more 11 times this season, including a season-high 15 vs. Long Beach State which is a school record vs. a Division I opponent.
# Team G Avg.1. Duke 28 10.62. Belmont 28 10.33. Samford 27 10.04. Miss. Valley 25 9.35. Charlotte 26 9.015. Air Force 26 8.6statistics are updated on TuesdaysYouth served
Air Force has started at least two freshman in nine games this season. Forward Joel Gerlach has started 19 times, center Josh Wallace nine, forward Robert Todd five and guard A.J. Kuhle five. Kuhle made his first career start against Northern Arizona, joining both Wallace and Todd in the starting lineup.
For the season, freshmen are averaging 32.6 percent of the team's total minutes. When you throw in sophomores Vernard Jenkins and Tom Bellairs, 65.3 percent of the team's total minutes are from freshmen and sophomores.
The Falcons have had a player play the entire 40 minutes 19 times. Jenkins leads the way with nine 40 minute games, followed by Bellairs' six. Croff has done it twice, followed by Todd, and junior Lamoni Yazzie each have done it once.
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 eighth in school history with 1,212 points.
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. Jarvis Croff, 1999-Pres. 1,2129. Tom Schneeberger, 1975-78 1,20410. Maurice McDonald, 1983-86 1,121Croff seventh in scoring avg.
Senior Jarvis Croff is seventh all-time in Air Force history in career scoring average with a 15.0 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 81 15.0Croff fourth in career steals, 2nd in career three-pointers made
Jarvis Croff ranks fourth in Air Force history in career steals with 108. He trails only Raymond Dudley (1987-90), who is the all-time leader with 148, Otis Jones (1992-95) with 147 and Jeff Bowling (1987-90) with 142.
Croff is also tied with Jones on the career made three-pointers list with 218. He needs just one trey to move into second place alone. Dudley is the career leader with 285.
Yazzie chasing free throw percentage record
Junior Lamoni Yazzie leads the Falcons in free throw percentage with an 87.3 mark on 62 of 71 shooting. Yazzie is chasing the single-season free throw percentage mark of 87.4 by Dan Kraft set in 1975. Yazzie's mark is currently the second-best in school history. Yazzie is currently second in the league in free throw percentage. A quick look at the top single-season marks follows:
# Name, Year Ft-A Pct1. Dan Kraft, 1975 83-95 87.42. Lamoni Yazzie, 2001 62-71 87.33. Charles Smith, 1991 70-82 85.44. Dale French, 1992 101-121 84.35. Dale French, 1990 97-116 83.6Jenkins moving up
Sophomore Vernard Jenkins is establishing himself as one of the top point guards in Air Force history. Jenkins is fourth in the MWC this season in assists with a 3.89 average. He's dished out 109 assists which ranks sixth in Air Force history for a single season. His 109 dimes is the most at Air Force since Jeff Bowling set the single-season record with 224 in 1990.
Jenkins has 198 career assists which ranks 11th in school history. Jenkins needs just 17 assists to break into the top 10 all-time.
AFA Single-Season assist leaders# Name, Yr. Assts.1. Jeff Bowling, 1990 2242. Bob Djokovich, 1977 1553. Jeff Bowling, 1989 1524. Todd Beer, 1986 1335. Bob Djokovich, 1978 1276. Vernard Jenkins, 2001 109 Bob Djokovich, 1976 109 Mike Hammond, 1988 1092000-01 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 nationally-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.
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).
