Air Force Academy
Colorado State
Falcons Fall In Tight Contest To Rams, 60-57
1/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 26, 2002
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - Brian Greene hit two free throws in the final seven seconds and had 18 points and a career-high 16 rebounds as Colorado State held off Air Force 60-57 on Saturday.
Greene managed only three field goals, but was 12-for-12 from the line. Matt Nelson added 17 points and five rebounds in his first game back after missing six games with a dislocated toe as Colorado State (9-9, 1-3 Mountain West Conference ended a three-game losing streak.
Joel Gerlach led Air Force (7-11, 1-4) with 20 points. The Falcons lost for the 11th straight time in Fort Collins.
Gerlach, 6-for-8 and 12 points in the second half, got Air Force within 56-54 by sinking two of three free throws and getting a layup after wrestling the rebound away from Nelson with 7.2 seconds left. Greene converted both free throws for Colorado State, but Tim Keller's 3-pointer with two seconds left made it 58-57.
Jon Rakiecki sealed the game with two free throws.
The Rams built their largest lead of the game, 44-37 on Nelson's hook shot midway through the second half. Air Force got within 52-50 on two free throws by David Peterson with 1:15 left in the game.
Air Force never led in the first half, but trailed by only 27-24 as Colorado State turned the ball over 12 times and Greene scored 10 points in the first 20 minutes.
