Falcons Host Stony Brook in Final Non-Conference Game
12/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2008
Game #13
Air Force Falcons (9-3) vs. Stony Brook Seawolves (6-5)
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008
3 p.m. at Clune Arena
Complete Release in PDF Format 
SITE
Location: USAFA, Colo.
Arena: Clune Arena
Capacity: 5,858
RADIO
Network: Air Force Basketball Network
Flagship: KVOR AM 740, Colo. Spgs.
Other: AM 1510 KCKK - Denver
Play-by-play: Tony Desiere
TELEVISION
Network: The Mtn.
Play-by-play: Tim Neverett
Analyst: Marty Fletcher
INTERNET
Gametracker: GoAirForceFalcons.com
COACHES
Jeff Reynolds (UNC-Greensboro, 1978)
Air Force: 25-19, Second Season
Overall: 107-51, Sixth Season
Steve Pikiell (Connecticut, 1990)
Stony Brook: 26-72, Fourth Season
Overall: Same
ALL-TIME SERIES
Overall: First Meeting
Golden Bear Classic Recap
Air Force split a pair of games and captured third place at the Golden Bear Classic, hosted by the University of California, last weekend. The Falcons dropped a 43-42 decision to Portland in the first round, then rebounded to defeat Dartmouth in the third-place game, 63-41. Senior Anwar Johnson was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 12 points and four rebounds in the two games.
Here are the results for the Golden Bear Classic:
Saturday, Dec. 27
California 98, Dartmouth 62
Portland 43, Air Force 42
Sunday, Dec. 28
Air Force 63, Dartmouth 41 (Third-Place Game)
California 81, Portland 61 (Championship Game)
Most Valuable Player
Jerome Randle, Cal
All-Tournament Team
Jamal Boykin, Cal
Theo Robertson, Cal
Luke Sikma, Portland
T.J. Campbell, Portland
Anwar Johnson, Air Force
Falcons No. 2 in Country in Shooting the 3-Ball
Air Force is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in three-point percentage at 44.3 percent. California leads the country at 50.6 percent.
Tournament Talk
Following the Golden Bear Classic, the Falcons are now 42-72 all-time in regular-season tournament action. However, since the beginning of the 2003-04 season, Air Force is 16-7 in regular-season tournament games. That outstanding record began at the Golden Bear Classic in 2003, when the Falcons defeated Prairie View A&M, 59-46, in the first round, then upset Cal, 49-44, in the title game.
Johnson Stays Hot
Senior Anwar Johnson has scored in double figures in 11 of AFA's 12 games this season, including each of the last eight. He opened the streak with a career-high 20 points on Nov. 26 at Stanford, followed up with a game-high 17 points against Norfolk State, scored 19 against Northern Illinois, then matched his career-high with 20 at Northern Colorado on Dec. 6. He scored 10 against Texas-Pan American on Dec. 13 and 16 against Texas Southern, then had 10 and 14 against Portland and Dartmouth, respectively, at the Golden Bear Classic.
Up Next
The Falcons open Mountain West Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 3 against San Diego State at Clune Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Nearly Unbeatable at Clune
The Falcons have been close to unbeatable at Clune Arena the last five-plus seasons. Since the beginning of the 2003-04 season, Air Force has won 75 of its 82 home games, including 40 of its 42 non-conference games.
In addition, the Falcons have won 35 of their 40 Mountain West Conference games at Clune Arena during that stretch.
Stewart Makes Immediate Impact
Freshman Taylor Stewart became the first Air Force freshman to record a double-double since 2000 when he scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against CSU Bakersfield on Nov. 16. Tom Bellairs was the last freshman to have a double-double in his first season at Air Force and he had eight of them during the 1999-2000 campaign.
Stewart is also the first Falcon freshman to score in double figures in his first three collegiate games since David Schuck during the 1997-98 campaign.
Three-Point Streak
Air Force has made a three-point shot in 492 consecutive games. The last time the Falcons failed to make a three-pointer was Dec. 4, 1991 in a 57-51 victory over Adams State College. The streak is the third-longest in the MWC behind UNLV (719) and New Mexico (594 ).
Henke No. 3 All-Time in Three-Point Pct.
Senior Andrew Henke is No. 3 on Air Force's career list for three-point percentage at 43.4 percent. He is 31-of-61 (50.8%) this season, which leads the Mountain West Conference.
9-3 Ties Third-Best Start Ever
Air Force's 9-3 record ties the third-best start ever in program history after 12 games. This is just the third season in the 53-year history of the program that a Falcon team has been 9-3.
Two Air Force teams (2005-06 and `06-07) opened with an 11-1 record, while the 2003-04 squad opened at 10-2.
Reynolds Captures 100th Career Win
Jeff Reynolds won his 100th career game as a head coach earlier this season. The Falcons' victory over CSU Bakersfield on Nov. 16 was his 18th at Air Force. He won 21 games in his only season as head coach at North Carolina Wesleyan, then won 61 in three years at Wingate College.
Seniors Dominate Against Northern Illinois
The Falcons' three seniors, Andrew Henke, Anwar Johnson and Matt Holland, combined for 54 of Air Force's 67 points on Dec. 3 against Northern Illinois. They also combined for 10 rebounds and nine assists.
For the season, the trio is averaging 39 points and 12 rebounds per contest. Johnson has scored in double figures in 11 of 12 games this season, while Henke has in 10 of 12. Holland has scored 10 or more points in seven of 12 games.
Parker Playing Solid
Junior Grant Parker is making the most of his playing time this season. After playing in just 14 games his first two seasons at Air Force, he has appeared in all 12 this season and is averaging 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest. He is third on the team in rebounding.
Parker scored a career-high 15 points against Wofford on Nov. 23 and grabbed a career-best nine rebounds against CSU Bakersfield and Northern Illinois.
Holland Top 10 in Two Shooting Categories
Senior Matt Holland is currently No. 3 in the Mountain West Conference in three-point percentage (47.2%) and is No. 9 in field-goal percentage (54.4%). Earlier this season, he led both categories at the same time.
Holland posted career-highs of 22 points and nine rebounds in the Falcons' 86-65 victory over UCCS at the Reggie Minton Air Force Classic, then followed up with a 13-point, four-rebound performance against Wofford to earn a place on the all-Classic team.
