Air Force defeats Malbas, 65-41
8/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aug. 7, 2003
Senior Joel Gerlach and junior Tim Keller each scored 13 points and sophomore Nick Welch had seven rebounds Thursday as the Air Force Falcons defeated Swedish Elite Team Malbas, 65-41, for the second time in three days.
Air Force is now 4-0 on its European trip and will play its fifth game in five nights on Friday against another Swedish team, Hogsbo.
"We played OK tonight," said AFA head coach Joe Scott. "The game got a little sloppy in the second half but we played well early and built a nice lead."
The Falcons, who led 21-11 after the first quarter, allowed six straight points at the beginning of the second quarter as Malbas cut the lead to 21-17. The Falcons then went on a 10-0 run as five different players scored to extend the lead to 31-17. The lead was never below 12 the rest of the way.
Air Force shot 50 percent from the field (25-50), but was just 3-for-18 from behind the three-point line. The Falcons also turned the ball over 23 times.
"We had too many turnovers," said Scott. "Four games in four nights is a lot of basketball, but we need to hold on to the ball better."
Welch had nine points to go along with his seven rebounds, and junior Caleb Buchanan and sophomore Antoine Hood added eight points apiece. Buchanan also had six rebounds, while Keller and senior Marcus Jenkins each collected five boards.
"Nick Welch really played well for us," Scott said. "He is giving us a strong presence in the paint and playing great defense."
