Falcons Come Up Short Against New Mexico, 68-51

Feb. 20, 2008

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - J.R. Giddens scored 14 points to lead New Mexico to a 68-51 win over Air Force on Wednesday night.

With the score tied 35-35 at the intermission, the Lobos began pulling away early in the second half. Roman Martinez opened the scoring with a 3-point basket, and Giddens and Daniel Faris began scoring from beneath the basket. The Lobos opened a 15-point margin with some 5 minutes to play, and coasted home for the win.

Faris was in double figures for the Lobos with 11.

Eric Kenzik led Air Force with a career-high 11 points an 3-of-6 shooting from the field.

New Mexico, 8-4 in the Mountain West Conference and 21-6 overall, entered the game in third place in the conference and on a four-game winning streak. With the win, New Mexico completes a season series sweep of the Falcons, having defeated Air Force 59-44 in Albuquerque on Jan. 19. Air Force (13-12, 5-7) was in sixth, and had broken a three-game losing skid with win over Wyoming on Saturday.

The teams battled on even terms early, until the Lobos opened a 14-point bulge midway through the first half behind the three-point shooting of Chad Toppert, who canned three shots from beyond the arc, and Jamaal Smith, who added another three-pointer.

Not to be outdone, Air Force answered with a long-range basket by Andrew Henke and a pair of 3-pointers from Kenzik to narrow the margin to 27-22, and eventually tied the game at 29-29. Three-pointers by Dairese Gary and Darren Prentice gave the Lobos the lead, but Henke tied the game with a 3-pointer shortly before the halftime buzzer.

Air Force Post-Game Notes

Team
• Air Force has made a three-pointer in 475 consecutive games
• Air Force's 16 points in the second half ties the second-fewest in one half vs. an MWC team this season
• Air Force's 15 turnovers ties the second-most in a home game this season
• Air Force's 57.9% from the field ties the best first-half percentage against an MWC team this season (1st half vs. UNLV at home)
• Air Force did not make a three-pointer in a half (2nd) for just the third time this season
• Air Force was tied at halftime (35-35) for the first time this season
• Air Force's 17-point defeat is the largest at home this season

Individual
• Erik Kenzik scored a career-high 11 points in a career-best 22 minutes
• Kenzik made two 3-pointers in one game for the first time in his career
• Andrew Henke scored in double figures for the fourth consecutive game

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