Air Force Academy
Wyoming
Air Force Beats Wyoming In Dramatic Fashion
3/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 6, 2004
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LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - Nick Welch scored 4 points in the last 23 seconds as Air Force came back from a 10-point deficit in the second half to beat Wyoming 52-47 Saturday, the Falcons' first victory in Laramie since 1989.
Air Force (22-5, 12-2 Mountain West) won its first league regular season title on Monday and heads into the conference tournament with a three-game win streak. The Falcons face Colorado State in the first round on Thursday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
Wyoming (11-16, 4-10) has lost seven of its last nine games.
The Cowboys, which had beaten the Falcons in eight of their last nine meetings, led 29-20 at halftime and went ahead 39-29 at the 13:35 mark thanks to a 6-0 run keyed by two free throws and a basket by Jay Straight.
But the Falcons answered with a 15-4 run, taking a 44-43 lead with 2:52 to go on two free throws by Tim Keller, who led Air Force with 17 points.
Four free throws by Straight and another basket by Keller left Wyoming with a 47-46 advantage with 1:08 remaining.
But Wyoming would not score another point the rest of the game while Welch put Air Force ahead with a layup with 23 seconds left. Keller followed with two free throws, and Welch scored on another layup for the final tally.
Straight finished with 12 points to lead Wyoming. Mikel Watson and Alex Dunn contributed 10 apiece. Dunn also had 14 rebounds.
Air Force committed eight turnovers in the first half but had none in the second. Wyoming finished with 18 turnovers.
