Falcons Lose Heartbreaker to Portland at Golden Bear Classic

Dec. 27, 2008

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - Robin Smeulders scored on a three-point play with 33.1 seconds remaining and Portland rallied to beat Air Force 43-42 in the first round of the Golden Bear Classic on Saturday.

Smeulders missed his first seven shot attempts before scoring inside against the Falcons and drawing a foul against Mike McLain. The Pilots second-leading scorer then sank the go-ahead free throw to give Portland its first lead of the second half.

Air Force had two shots in the final 15 seconds but couldn't convert and had its five-game win streak snapped.

T.J. Campbell scored 10 points to pace Portland, which will play host California in the tournament championship game on Sunday. Luke Sikma added seven points and a season-high 13 rebounds for the Pilots (7-5) while Smeulders finished with six points and eight rebounds.

Grant Parker had 12 points to lead Air Force (8-3) while Andrew Henke and Anwar Johnson had 10 points apiece for the Falcons.

Both teams shot below 30 percent for the game and went a combined 24 of 85 from the floor, including 8 of 40 from 3-point range. Neither team had a fastbreak basket, either. Portland's 43 points matched the tournament's previous record for lowest points scored by a losing team, a mark now held by Air Force.

The offensive problems started early for both teams and continued throughout the game.

Air Force missed 11 of its first 14 shots from the floor, went 0-for-12 over the final 13:08 of the first half and scored more points from the free throw line (10) than it did from the floor. Portland wasn't much better, going 6 of 25 with seven turnovers and only one basket in the final seven minutes.

The Pilots held a one-point lead late before a pair of free throws from Henke gave the Falcons a 18-17 lead at halftime.

Air Force opened the second half with an 11-1 run to open a 29-18 lead before Portland inched its way back when the Falcons went through another scoring drought.

Sikma scored on an offensive rebound with 2:41 left to pull the Pilots within 42-40 before Smeulders' three-point play put Portland ahead for good.

Air Force will battle Dartmouth in the consolation game on Sunday, beginning at 2:30 p.m. (PT).

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.