Falcons host New Mexico in MW showdown
2/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television:............ ROOT Sports (Drew Goodman, Sed Bonner)
Radio:.................... KVOR AM 740 (Jim Arthur, Matt Pauley)
THE BREAKDOWN
Quick Facts Air Force New Mexico
Record:............. 13-14.................................... 16-10
Conf. Record:.. 4-10....................................... 9-4
Streak:.............. W 1........................................ W 2
Last Game:....... vs. UNLV (2/16)................... vs. Boise State (2/17)
Won 79-74 Won 70-68
Next Game:..... at Fresno State (2/24)........ at Colorado State (2/23)
Conference:..... Mountain West................... Mountain West
Nickname:........ Falcons.................................. Lobos
Location:.......... Colorado Springs, CO......... Albuquerque, NM
Website:.......... GoAirForceFalcons.com.... GoLobos.com
THE COACHES
Head Coach:..... Dave Pilipovich.................... Craig Neal
Alma Mater:.... Thiel College, 1986............. Georgia Tech, 1988
School Record: 59-69 (4th season)............. 58-33 (3rd season)
Career Record: Same..................................... Same
THE SERIES
Overall:............. New Mexico leads, 57-20
First Meeting:. Dec. 7, 1957 at New Mexico (New Mexico, 68-50)
Last Meeting:.. Jan. 27, 2016 at New Mexico (New Mexico, 84-55)
Streaks.............. New Mexico W 1
THE SERIES
Air Force and New Mexico are meeting for the 79th time overall. The Lobos hold a 57-21 overall lead in the series, including a 34-4 mark in Albuquerque. New Mexico is 20-15 at the Academy and 3-2 in neutral site games. The Lobos beat Air Force, 84-55, earlier this season in Albuquerque. Air Force won two of the three meetings last season. After splitting regular season games with each team winning at home, the Falcons defeated New Mexico, 68-61, in the opening round of the Mountain West Tournament. The teams first played Dec. 7, 1957 in Albuquerque. The Falcons won the game, 68-50.
THE LAST MEETING
Jan. 27, 2016 - Albuquerque
Elijah Brown scored 17 points to lead four Lobos in double figures as New Mexico beat Air Force, 84-55, Wednesday night in a Mountain West game in Albuquerque, N.M.
The Lobos used a 22-2 run midway through the second half to run away from Air Force. The Falcons, who trailed 45-30 at halftime, cut the lead to nine points, 56-47, with 11:32 remaining before the New Mexico run. The Lobos finished the game hitting 63 percent from the field, the best against Air Force this season. New Mexico hit 52.9 percent from 3-point range and out-rebounded Air Force, 42-26.
Anthony Mathis came off the bench to add 16 points while Tim Williams had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Lobos. Xavier Adams chipped in with 14 points.
Hayden Graham led Air Force with 14 points. Zach Moer chipped in with 12 points and a team-best five rebounds. The Falcons finished the game hitting just 27.6 percent from the field. Air Force hit a season-high 10 3-pointers, shooting 37.0 percent.
AIR FORCE'S LAST GAME
Zach Kocur scored six of his 19 points in the final 1:54, and CJ Siples added 17 points, including two free throws with five seconds left, to help Air Force hold on for a 79-74 win over UNLV Feb. 16.
Jacob Van added 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Frank Toohey had 14 points and nine rebounds for Air Force.
A jumper by Siples put the Falcons (13-14, 4-10 Mountain West) up 67-56 with six minutes to play.
Jerome Seagears' layup capped an 11-2 run that pulled UNLV (15-12, 6-8) within two with 3:37 remaining and his 3-pointer with 53 seconds left trimmed the Runnin' Rebels' deficit to 73-72.
Toohey made a layup 21 seconds later and, after a missed 3 on the other end, two free throws by Kocur made it 77-72 with 19 seconds to go.
UNLV's Dwayne Morgan hit two foul shots 12 seconds later, but Siples' free throws sealed it.
Patrick McCaw and Jalen Poyser scored 15 each for UNLV.
Post-Game Notes
Team Notes
- The lineup of CJ Siples (G), Zach Kocur (G), Jacob Van (G), Hayden Graham (F) and Frank Toohey (C) started for the second straight game. The lineup is the 12th used by the Falcons this season.
- Air Force won its third straight home game and improved to 11-4 at home this season. Air Force's 11 home wins is the most since 2012-13 when Air Force posted 13.
- Air Force has won three of the last four at home vs. UNLV. The Falcons improved to 10-11 all-time at home against UNLV. Air Force is 12-33 all-time in the series vs. the Rebels.
- Air Force led 35-31 at halftime marking the first time since the conference opener vs. San Jose State Jan. 2 the team has held the halftime lead. The Falcons are 7-1 overall and 2-0 in conference games when leading at the half this season.
- Air Force had three double-figure scorers in the first half. The Falcons had three double-figure scorers combined the last three games. Air Force finished the game with four players in double figures.
- Air Force out-rebounded UNLV, 40-33. The Falcons improved to 9-1 this season when out-rebounding an opponent.
Individual Notes
- Junior Zach Kocur scored a season-high 19 points to mark his ninth double-figure scoring game of the season and 22nd of his career. Kocur scored in double figures for the first time since the San Jose State Jan. 30. Kocur hit three 3-pointers and has hit at least one in 13 straight games.
- Sophomore Frank Toohey scored 14 points to mark his fourth double-figure scoring game of the season. Toohey recorded career highs in free throws and free throw attempts going 10-10. He tied a school record for best free throw percentage in a conference game. His is the fifth player to hit 10-10 or better and first since Anwar Johnson hit 10-10 vs. Colorado State Jan. 22, 2008. Toohey also grabbed a career-high nine rebounds. His previous high was seven vs. Boise State earlier this season (2-6-16).
- Sophomore CJ Siples scored 17 points to mark his fourth double-figure scoring game of the season. Three of the four have come in the last five games.
- Sophomore Jacob Van scored a career-high 21 points to record his second straight game in double figures. Van had a then-career-high 17 points at San Diego State last Saturday. Van is the fourth Falcon to score 20-plus this season, joining Hayden Graham (6), Trevor Lyons (2) and CJ Siples (1).
AIR FORCE IS.....
- 7-1 when leading at the half
- 10-1 when leading with 10:00 left
- 10-1 when leading with 5:00 left
- 9-1 when out-rebounding opponent
- 8-5 when out-shooting opponent
- 10-2 when holding opponents under 70 points
9-3 IN CLOSE GAMES
Air Force is 9-3 overall in games decided by eight points or less. The Falcons had a six-game winning streak snapped by falling to Colorado State, 83-79, Jan. 20. Fresno State defeated the Falcons, 56-55, Jan. 23 to hand the team back-to-back close losses. Air Force's only other loss came in the season opener at Southern Illinois, 77-75. Air Force defeated UNLV, 79-74, Feb. 16.
HITTING THE BOARDS
Air Force is 9-1 this season when out-rebounding an opponent. The Falcons are averaging 34.9 rebounds per game this season. Air Force's lone loss when out-rebounding an opponent came to Colorado State, 83-79. The Falcons out-rebounded the Rams, 37-28. Air Force has out-rebounded three straight opponents at home. The team held a 29-28 edge over Wyoming, 39-33 advantage over Boise State and out-rebounded UNLV, 40-33.
HOME SUCCESS
Air Force is 11-4 at home this season. The team's 11 home wins is tied as the fifth most in the Mountain West this season. Fresno State leads the conference with 13, followed by San Diego State, New Mexico and Boise State with 12 each. Air Force's 11 home wins is the most since 2012-13 when Air Force posted 13.
Air Force is 4-3 in conference home games and needs just one more win to clinch a home winning record. Head Coach Dave Pilpovich has led the Falcons to a pair of winning home records in conference play. If Air Force does it again this year, Pilipovich will become the only coach in school history to lead the Falcons to three winning home records in conference play.
RARE ACCOMPLISHMENT AT SDSU
Air Force shot 52 percent in last Saturday's 70-61 loss at San Diego State. The Aztecs had gone 54 straight home games without allowing a team to shoot 50 percent or better. The last time it happened before Saturday was UNLV on Jan. 16, 2013.
INJURY UPDATE
Air Force has lost two starters to season-ending injuries this season. Starting point guard Trevor Lyons is out with an injured hand. He last played at San Jose State Jan. 30. The Falcons also lost starting forward Ryan Manning to a knee injury in the Colorado game Nov. 25. Air Force starters have lost 27 man-games due to injury this season. Manning has been out 22 games while Lyons has been out five.
VAN STEPS UP
Sophomore Jacob Van has started the last two games for Air Force and has responded with the two best games of his career.
Van has averaged 19.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists the last two games. He has hit 64.0 percent (16-25) from the field and 66.7 percent (4-6) of his 3-pointers while leading the team in scoring in each game.
He recorded career highs of 17 points, four assists and 32 minutes played at San Diego State Feb. 13. His double figure scoring effort is the first of his career. Van's previous career highs were all earlier this season with eight points vs. Johnson & Wales, three assists vs. Army and 17 minutes at Nevada.
He one-upped himself in Air Force's win over UNLV Tuesday, recording a career-high 21 points to lead Air Force and record his second straight game in double figures. He is the fourth Falcon to score 20-plus this season, joining Hayden Graham (6), Trevor Lyons (2) and CJ Siples (1).
GRAHAM AMONG MW LEADERS
Junior Hayden Graham is 10th in the MW in scoring (13.9) and 12th in rebounding (6.2). He is also third in field goal percentage (49.8) and third in minutes played (35.5).
Graham scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds and had three assists in 40 minutes against Colorado State Jan. 20. He hit 9-13 from the field, including 4-6 from 3-point range. His 25 points tie as the most by a Falcon this season. Graham led the Falcons with 23 points, five assists and two steals vs. Wyoming. He hit 9-14 field goals, including a half-court shot to end the first half. He scored eight points, four rebounds and three assists vs. Boise State. Graham hit his only 3-pointer of the game with 1:07 remaining to give Air Force a 60-53 lead. Graham led the Falcons with 17 points and nine rebounds, a conference season-high for him, at San Diego State Feb. 13. He played all 40 minutes. Graham scored just four points against UNLV, but grabbed seven rebounds and had a steal in 28 minutes.
LYONS OUT FOR SEASON
Sophomore guard Trevor Lyons is out for the remainder of the season due to injury. He last played Jan. 30 at San Jose State.
Lyons leads the team in assists (2.8) and steals (1.4) and is second in scoring (12.7).
Lyons matched his career high with 22 points and hit a career-best 11 free throws (12 attempts) vs. San Jose State. He also matched his career high with three 3-pointers and grabbed six rebounds and had three assists.
Lyons has hit the game-winner twice this season. Lyons scored 19 points against Mississippi Valley State, including a driving layup with one second left to win the game. Lyons did it at both ends against New Mexico State. He hit the game-winning layup with eight seconds left, then forced a charge on New Mexico's State's next possession with 2.5 seconds left and Air Force leading 65-64. The Aggies fouled Lyons on the inbounds pass and he hit one of two free throws with 1.3 seconds to seal the win.
KOCUR SCORES SEASON HIGH
Junior Zach Kocur scored a season-high 19 points and had six rebounds and two steals to help Air Force beat UNLV Tuesday. He matched his season high with three 3-pointers, going 3-6. Kocur is fourth on the team in scoring and second in rebounding with averages of 8.8 points and 5.1 rebounds. He ranks sixth in the MW in defensive rebounds with a 4.8 average. He has scored in double figures nine times this season and 22 times in his career.
SIPLES STEPS UP
Sophomore CJ Siples has stepped up big-time since becoming the team's starting point guard after the injury to Trevor Lyons. He has helped lead the Falcons to three wins and scored in double figures in all three. Siples has averaged 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 32.2 minutes per game. He has shot 55.2 percent (21-38) from the field, 53.3 percent (8-15) from 3-point territory and 79.2 percent (19-24) from the line.
Siples was named Mountain West player of the week and Madness Mountain West player of the week for his efforts in Air Force's two wins over Wyoming and Boise State. He averaged 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He hit 64.7 percent (11-17) from the field, 57.1 percent (4-7) of his 3-pointers and 85.7 percent (12-14) from the free throw line.
Siples scored a career-high 25 points, which ties as the most by a Falcon this season, against Boise State. Siples eclipsed his previous high in the first half with 15 points. Siples also had career highs of four 3-pointers, seven rebounds and three steals.
He scored 13 points, had four rebounds, three assists and two steals without any turnovers in a career-high 36 minutes vs. Wyoming.
Siples had 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and a key blocked shot late in the game in Air Force's win over UNLV Tuesday.
TOOHEY TIES SCHOOL RECORD
Sophomore Frank Toohey has averaged 10.3 points and 6.5 rebounds the last six games. He has hit 47.2 percent (17-36) from the field, 50.0 percent (2-4) from 3-point territory and 84.4 percent (27-32) from the three throw line.
Toohey recorded a career-high 17 points and seven rebounds and 29 minutes at San Jose State Jan. 30. Toohey led the Falcons in scoring for the first time in his career and in rebounding for the second time. He hit five of nine field goals, including a 3-pointer, and all six of his free throws. Five of his seven rebounds were offensive. Toohey made the first start of his career against Wyoming and responded with 13 points and six rebounds to record back-to-back double figure scoring games for the first time in his career. Toohey scored 14 points and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds in a career-high 30 minutes against UNLV Tuesday. He also tied a school record for best free throw percentage in a conference game, going 10-of-10. He is the fifth player to hit 10-10 or better and first since Anwar Johnson hit 10-10 vs. Colorado State Jan. 22, 2008.
