Air Force Academy
San Diego State
Falcons Best Aztecs, 46-43, in Defensive Struggle
3/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 8, 2008
Box Score and Play-by-Play in PDF Format 
2008 Phillips 66 MWC Men's Basketball Championship Bracket in PDF Format
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) -- Tim Anderson scored 11 points to lead Air Force to a 46-43 win over San Diego State on Saturday. With the victory, the Falcons clinch the No. 5 seed at next week's Phillips 66 Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships in Las Vegas, Nev. Air Force will face No. 4-seed San Diego State at 2:30 p.m. (PT) at the Thomas & Mack Center.
In a physical game under the boards, the key play was a defensive rebound by Evan Washington with a second left to play.
With Air Force leading 45-43, Washington grabbed the rebound off a three-point attempt by Lorrenzo Wade and was fouled by Ryan Amoroso on the way down. Washington converted a free throw to give Air Force a three-point lead, and the subsequent inbound pass was deflected at midcourt to preserve the win.
Air Force (16-13, 8-8 Mountain West) led through the entire second half, but the Aztecs stayed in the game behind the three-point shooting of D.J. Gay, who scored 17 points.
Keith Maren provided the spark Air Force needed with just under 10 minutes to play.
The senior center drove the length of the floor after stealing a pass beneath the basket to make the score 35-30. He then went to the line to complete a three-point play, giving Air Force a six-point margin.
The Aztecs (19-11, 9-7) never overcame the lead.
The game marked the final home game for Air Force's four seniors, Anderson, Maren, Eric Kenzik and Adam Hood.
Air Force Post-Game Notes
Team
• Air Force has made a three-pointer in 479 consecutive games
• Air Force's 8-8 MWC record marks the fifth straight season with at least a .500 conference record
• Air Force improved to 14-2 when leading at halftime this season
• Air Force has allowed 25 points or less in each of the last four halves played
• Air Force finishes fifth in the MWC and will face San Diego State in the first round of the MWC Championships on Thursday, March 13 at 2:30 p.m. (PT) in Las Vegas, Nev.
Individual
• Adam Hood and Eric Kenzik each started the first game of his career
• Tim Anderson played the 123rd game of his career, two shy of the school record
• Keith Maren tied his career-high with three steals
• Maren played a career-high 38 minutes
• Evan Washington tied his career-high with three assists for the second straight game
2008 PHILLIPS 66 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Wednesday, March 12
11:00 a.m., First-round Game, No. 8 Wyoming vs. No. 9 Colorado State, No TV
Thursday, March 13
12:00 p.m., Quarterfinal Game #1, No. 1 BYU vs. 8/9 winner, the Mtn.
2:30 p.m., Quarterfinal Game #2, No. 4 San Diego State vs. No. 5 Air Force, the Mtn.
6:00 p.m., Quarterfinal Game #3, No. 2 UNLV vs. No. 7 TCU, CBS College Sports*/the Mtn.
8:30 p.m., Quarterfinal Game #4, No. 3 New Mexico vs. No. 6 Utah, CBS College Sports*/the Mtn.
Friday, March 14
6:30 p.m., Semifinal Game #1, Quarterfinal #1 and #2 Winners, CBS College Sports*
9:00 p.m., Semifinal Game #2, Quarterfinal #3 and #4 Winners, CBS College Sports*
Saturday, March 15
4:00 p.m., Championship Game, VERSUS
* - formerly CSTV
