Air Force Academy
Utah (MWC Tournament)
Air Force Almost Knocks Off Top-Seeded Utah
3/13/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Tim Frost scored 12 points including four free throws in the final 14 seconds to lead top-seeded Utah past No. 8 seed Air Force 42-38 in the first round of the Mountain West Conference tournament Thursday night.
Utah (24-6) now plays in the semifinals against either fifth seed San Diego State or fourth seed UNLV.
The Utes took their first and only lead of the game with 2:28 left after trailing as many as eight in the first half.
The Falcons (12-16) had a chance to tie the game, trailing 38-36 with 15 seconds left, but Joel Gerlach tossed up a wild layup that hit only the backboard.
Both teams shot poorly all night. Utah was 12-of-31 from the field for 38.7 percent, while Air Force was 13-of-42 for 31 percent. The Falcons made just 3-of-15 3-point tries.
A.J. Kuhle led Air Force with 12 points and eight rebounds. Gerlach also scored 12.
After trailing 21-18 at halftime, the Utes tied it 23-23 with 17:32 left in the game. The Falcons then went on a 5-0 run and did not trail until the Utes finally took the lead 35-33 on two free throws by Bryant Markson with 2:28 left.
