Air Force hosts Western State in men's hoops
11/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
THE SERIES
Air Force leads the series, 19-1. The Falcons have won 19 straight dating back to the first meeting on Jan. 5, 1957. Western State won the initial meeting, 57-41. The team's last played Dec. 9, 2013 at the Academy. Air Force won the game, 94-53.
THE LAST TIME VS. WESTERN STATE
Marek Olesinski scored 16 points and Justin Hammonds posted his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead five Falcons in double figures as Air Force defeated Western State, 94-53, Monday night at Clune Arena. The Falcons used a 20-5 run early in the second half to race to a 66-33 lead with 9:11 remaining. Air Force pushed the lead to as many as 44 points in the final minutes while cruising to its largest victory margin of the season. Air Force shot 55.9 percent from the field, including 41.9 percent from 3-poing range on a 13-for-31 clip, and out-rebounded Western State, 45-32. The Falcons had 24 assists on 33 field goals and committed just four turnovers with seven blocks. Zach Kocur added 15 points on six-of-six shooting, while Tre' Coggins and Hayden Graham chipped in with 13 points each. Max Yon added eight points, nine rebounds and a game-high six assists for the Falcons, who held Western State to just 32.2 percent shooting, including a five-for-26 effort from 3-point range. Air Force used a 13-3 run to take a 25-13 lead late in the first half and led by as many as 20 points before finishing with a 39-22 halftime lead. Western State was held to 28.6 percent shooting in the first half and hit just two of 12 from 3-point range as the Falcons took control of the game for good. Western State never got closer than 15 points after halftime. Western State was led by Dominique Wright, who scored 11 points.
EARLIER THIS WEEK
Air Force defeated Colorado Christian, 70-49, in the season home opener Wednesday night at the Academy. Max Yon scored 20 points for the Falcons. Western State played an exhibition game Tuesday night at Wyoming, falling to the Cowboys, 61-46. Dominique Wright led the Mountainers with 16 points.
AIR FORCE LAST WEEK
Air Force finished third in the All-Military Classic in West Point, N.Y. The Falcons lost to Army, 84-78, in the opening round. Air Force rebounded to defeat The Citadel, 68-55, in the consolation game. Max Yon led the team in scoring in each game, scoring 23 against Army and 16 vs. The Citadel. Yon was named to the all-tournament team for his efforts. Kamryn Williams led the Falcons in rebounding, collecting a team-high seven in each game. He scored 10 points against Army and eight vs. Citadel. Sophomore Hayden Graham scored a career-high 18 points against Army and added nine against the Citadel. Freshman Matt Mooney, who started at point guard each game, topped the Falcons with seven assists in his first-career game against Army. He addedseven points and two assists vs. Citadel.
