Air Force Academy
New Mexico
Bellairs Leads Falcons To Win Over UNM
2/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb 9, 2002
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - Air Force overcame an early 13-point deficit and streaky shooting to defeat New Mexico 47-44 on Saturday.
Tim Keller and Joel Gerlach each hit two free throws in the final two minutes to preserve the victory for Air Force (9-12, 3-5 Mountain West).
New Mexico (14-8, 4-4) started the game with a 16-3 run. Air Force countered with a 15-4 run to cut the deficit to 20-18 at the half.
New Mexico's 11-0 run made it 31-22 in the second half before Air Force tied it with 9 straight.
Keller, who finished with 11 points, hit three 3-pointers in the second half that helped spur Air Force to a 37-36 lead with 5:43 left.
Tom Bellairs had 13 for Air Force and A.J. Kuhle had 10.
Ruben Douglas had 13 for New Mexico. Eric Chatfield and Jamaal Williams each had 10.
Air Force committed only two fouls. "We really tried to get to the free-throw line," New Mexico coach Fran Fraschilla said. "For us to shoot two free throws is disgusting."
Chatfield and teammates Patrick Dennehy and Tim Lightfoot had words after a turnover with 3:05 to play. Dennehy left the floor during a subsequent time-out and did not return.
Fraschilla said he had not decided whether Dennehy would face disciplinary action.
