Falcons host UNLV Saturday at Noon
2/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 12, 2015
THE SERIES
Air Force and UNLV are meeting for the 43rd time. The Rebels lead the overall series, 32-10, including a 30-9 mark in conference games. Air Force is 2-21 all-time in Las Vegas and 8-11 at home. UNLV defeated Air Force, 74-63, earlier this season in Las Vegas. Prior to that game, the teams had split the last four meetings, each going 1-1 at home and on the road. The teams first played Jan. 10, 1981 at the Academy resulting in a 51-50 Air Force win.
EARLIER THIS SEASON VS. UNLV
Christian Wood scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead five Rebels in double figures as UNLV defeated Air Force, 74-63, in Las Vegas. The Rebels hit 54.2 percent from the field in the second half and had just five turnovers in the game to hold on. UNLV finished the game hitting 46.2 percent overall and hit 17-of-24 from the free throw line to secure the win. Jelan Kendrick added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists for UNLV while Rashad Vaughn, Patrick McCaw and Cody Doolin each added 11 points. Justin Hammonds led three Falcons in double figures with 15 points and six rebounds. Marek Olesinski added 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds and Matt Mooney chipped in with 10 points and a team-best three assists. Air Force hit 44.2 percent from the field, including 15-of-30 in the second half, and hit 45.5 percent from three-point territory. The Falcons out-rebounded UNLV, 32-29, but had 15 turnovers in the game.
AIR FORCE VS. UNLV LAST SEASON
Air Force and UNLV split a pair of game last season, each winning on the road. Air Force defeated UNLV, 75-68, in Las Vegas on Jan. 4, while the Rebels beat Air Force, 93-67, at the Academy March 1. Tre' Coggins scored 20 points to lead four players in double figures as the Falcons won for just the second time in Las Vegas. Max Yon added 13 points and Marek Olesinski and Kamryn Williams had 11 each. The Falcons shot 51.9 percent from the field and out-scored UNLV 36-24 in the paint. UNLV ran out to a 51-34 halftime lead at the Academy and rolled to the victory. Khem Birch scored 15 points to lead seven players in double figures. The Rebels hit 61.8 percent from the field and out-rebounded Air Force, 45-25.
LOOKING FOR #700
Air Force's next win will be its 700th all-time. The Falcons are in their 57th varsity season in 2014-15 and have a 699-880 all-time record.
DEAN SMITH ACADEMY TIES
Legendary coaching great Dean Smith, the North Carolina basketball coaching great who won two national championships, passed away last weekend at the age of 83. Smith began his coaching career at the Air Force Academy in 1957-58 while stationed at the Academy as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He served as an assistant men's basketball coach for Bob Spear and was head golf coach. The school said in a statement Sunday from Smith's family that the former coach died at his home Saturday night. He was with his wife and five children. Smith had health issues in recent years, with the family saying in 2010 he had a condition that was causing him to lose memory. Smith coached the Tar Heels from 1961-97. He retired as the winningest coach in the sport with 879 victories. He won NCAA titles in 1982 and 1993, and coached such players as Michael Jordan and James Worthy. He reached 11 Final Fours, won 13 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament titles and coached the U.S. Olympic team to the gold medal in 1976.
AIR FORCE EARLIER THIS WEEK
James Webb III had 17 points and matched a season high with 15 rebounds to lead Boise State to an easy 67-42 victory over Air Force on Wednesday night. Derrick Marks added 13 points as the Broncos set a school record with their eighth consecutive victory. Rob Heyer contributed 12 points for Boise State, which hasn't lost since Jan. 10 against Wyoming. Matt Mooney scored 12 points to lead Air Force, which lost for the seventh time in 10 games. Zach Kocur added nine points for the Falcons, who were 4-of-16 from 3-point range and 4-of-14 from the free-throw line. Air Force's point total is its lowest of the season. Boise State's lead reached 10 before the game was 12 minutes old and the Broncos were never seriously threatened. Boise State led 25-14 at halftime and expanded the lead to 20 five-plus minutes into the second half.
Post-Game Notes
Team Notes
• The starting lineup of Trevor Lyons, Zach Kocur, Hayden Graham, DeLovell Earls and Marek Olesinski started for the third time this season. Air Force has used eight different starting lineups this season. Senior Justin Hammonds missed his second straight and fifth game this season due to injury. Air Force has missed 107 man-games due to injury this season.
• Air Force's 14 first-half points is a season low. The previous was 15 points at Colorado Nov. 25 in a 68-53 loss. The 14 points are the fewest in a first half by Air Force scoring 14 vs. San Diego State, March 6, 2010, in a 61-42 loss at Clune Arena.
• The Falcons allowed just 25 points in the first half which is their third-fewest allowed in the first half of a conference game this season.
• Air Force trailed at the half, 25-14. The Falcons are 0-11 when trailing at the half this season.
• Air Force extended its streak of hitting at least one three-pointer to 175 games dating back to Nov. 21, 2009 vs. Northern Colorado.
Individual Notes
• Sophomore Zach Kocur scored nine points and hit two 3-pointers. He's hit multiple 3-pointers in nine of his last 15 games.
• Freshman Matt Mooney scored 12 points to mark the second straight and fourth time in the last five games he's scored in double figures. Mooney led the Falcons in scoring for the fourth time this season which is the third most on the team.
