Air Force Academy
UNLV
Air Force Gets Big Win Over UNLV
1/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 25, 2003
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Tim Keller had 19 points and Joel Gerlach added 18 points and 10 rebounds as Air Force beat UNLV 75-71 on Saturday.
A.J. Kuhle also had 18 points and Tom Bellairs had 13 for Air Force (10-7, 1-3 Mountain West).
Marcus Banks had 28 points and Dalron Johnson had 16 for UNLV (11-5, 0-3).
It was the first time Air Force has beaten UNLV since their inaugural meeting Jan. 10, 1981. Air Force snapped a three-game losing streak while UNLV lost its third straight.
Air Force, known for its 3-point shooting, outscored the Runnin' Rebels 30-14 in the paint and out-rebounded them 27-24.
"Coach (Joe Scott) said they were similar to us," Keller said. "They didn't have a big team. Coach told us to get in there and get rebounds."
Leading 28-25 at the break, Air Force spread its offense to open up layup opportunities in the second half. A layup by Gerlach with 4:47 left put Air Force up 59-52.
Air Force shot 53.7 percent from the field and 36.8-percent from 3-point range.
Air Force's defense held UNLV to 49 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent on 3-pointers. The Falcons entered the game with the nation's top scoring defense, giving up 52.9 points per game.
UNLV's 71 points were six point below its season average.
