Air Force Academy
Auburn
Falcons Fall to Auburn, 68-49
12/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2003
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) - Marco Killingsworth scored 17 points, Ian Young had 16 and Auburn rode a huge rebounding advantage to a 68-49 victory over Air Force Sunday.
The Tigers (6-0), who have won their last five games by an average 27 points, dominated the boards 38-11 against the undersized Falcons (2-2).
Young and Killingsworth were both 6 of 8 from the floor as Auburn shot 59.5 percent against the Falcons' normally stingy defense.
Air Force came in allowing 44 points per game but couldn't contend with Auburn's advantage in size and athleticism.
Killingsworth had eight rebounds, six offensive, while Kyle Davis had eight points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Antoine Hood and Jacob Burtschi had 11 points apiece for the Falcons, who were 11-of-30 from 3-point range and just 7-of-17 inside the line.
Air Force took its biggest lead, 35-31, in the opening minutes of the second half before Auburn quickened the game's pace and took control with a big surge.
The Tigers had a 16-0 run capped by Ronny LeMelle's 3-pointer from the left wing with 10:05 left, holding the Falcons scoreless for more than six minutes to take a 47-35 lead.
Auburn made 15 of 22 shots in the second half, including 3-of-5 3-pointers.
The first-half pace was much more to the liking of Air Force, which forced 12 turnovers and kept Auburn mostly out-of-synch offensively.
The Falcons took their only lead of the half, 23-20, on Jacob Burtschi's 3-pointer with two minutes left as the Tigers went more than seven minutes without scoring.
Davis and Young closed the half with back-to-back baskets to give Auburn a one-point halftime lead.
The Falcons made only eight first-half shots, but six were 3-pointers.
