Air Force falls to Southern Illinois in season opener

Nov. 13, 2015

Southern Illinois defeated Air Force, 77-75, Friday night in Carbondale, Ill., in the season opener for both schools as part of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge.

Air Force led 38-30 at halftime and opened the second half with a 9-2 run to take a 47-32 lead with 17:54 remaining in the game. Southern Illinois battled back behind 50 percent shooting in the second half. Mike Rodriguez hit a pair of free throws with nine seconds left to give Southern Illinois a 77-75 lead. The Falcons final possession ended with a turnover by Trevor Lyons when he slipped to the floor driving the basketball to the hoop.

Rodriguez scored 15 points for SIU to lead four players in doubles figures. Tyler Smithpeters added 14 points, Anthony Smithpeters 13 and Armon Fletcher 10. Bola Olaniyan added eight points and a game-high 12 rebounds. SIU finished the game hitting 41.8 percent from the field and had just six turnovers. The Salukis out-rebounded Air Force, 38-36.

Air Force was led by Hayden Graham, who recorded the fourth double-double of his career with a career-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. Lyons tied his career high with 18 points and added a career-high eight rebounds. Zach Moer added a career-high 11 points in his first-career start. The Falcons hit 43.1 percent from the field, but just four of 20 from 3-point range.

Air Force returns to action in its home opener vs. Tennessee Tech on Monday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. in Clune Arena.

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