A look back at 2015-16 Season
3/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
THE BREAKDOWN
Record................... 14-18
Conf. Record........ 5-13
Finish..................... 10th
Streak.................... L 4
Last Game............ Lost 102-108 in 3OT vs. UNLV in MW Tournament
Nickname............. Falcons
Location................ Colorado Springs, CO
Website................ GoAirForceFalcons.com
THE COACH
Head Coach.......... Dave Pilipovich
Alma Mater.......... Thiel College, 1986
School Record...... 60-73 (4th season)
Career Record..... Same
SEASON RECAP
Air Force finished the season 14-18 overall and finished 10th in the Mountain West with a 5-13 mark. The team's 14 wins ties as the 12th most in the history of the program. Air Force finished 12-5 at home. The team's 12 home wins tied for fourth in the Mountain West. Fresno State led the conference with 16, while Boise State was second with 14. San Diego State was third with 13. The 12 home wins is the most since 2012-13 when Air Force posted 13.
Air Force went 5-4 in conference home games this season and had a four-game conference home win streak. Head Coach Dave Pilipovich has led the Falcons to a three winning home records in conference play, the most of any coach in school history.
The Falcons won the Air Force Classic, posting a 4-0 record with wins over Tennessee Tech, Mississippi Valley State, Robert Morris and New Mexico State. The Falcons finished the non-conference season with a 9-4 record. The team's nine wins are the most since 2011-12 when the team won 10. Air Force finished the non-conference slate with an RPI of 107, the fourth-best in the conference. The Falcons were one of three MW teams to win two non-conference road games. Air Force's four non-conference losses came to teams with a combined 40-12 record (.769).
Junior Hayden Graham led the Falcons in scoring and rebounding with averages of 13.8 points and 6.3 rebounds. Sophomore Trevor Lyons was second with a 12. 7 average. Lyons missed the final 10 games due to injury. Junior Zach Kocur was third on the team in scoring and second in rebounding with averages of 9.6 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Graham was the lone Falcon honored with a post-season award, earning Mountain West honorable mention honors. Sophomores C.J. Siples and Jacob Van earned conference weekly player of the week honors once. Siples earned MW and Madness Mountain West player of the week honors while Van was Madness MW player of the week.
10-5 IN CLOSE GAMES
Air Force was 10-5 overall in games decided by eight points or less this season. 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 and 64-63 Feb. 24. The second FSU win snapped a four-game winning streak. Air Force's only other losses came in the season opener at Southern Illinois, 77-75, and vs. UNLV in the Mountain West Tournament, 108-102, in triple overtime.
HOME SUCCESS
Air Force finished 12-5 at home this season. The team's 12 home wins tied for fourth in the Mountain West. Fresno State led the conference with 16, while Boise State is second with 14. San Diego State is third with 13. The Falcons tied with UNLV and New Mexico. Air Force's 12 home wins is the most since 2012-13 when Air Force posted 13.
Air Force went 5-4 in conference home games. Head Coach Dave Pilipovich has led the Falcons to a three winning home records in conference play, the most of any coach in school history.
HITTING THE BOARDS
Air Force was 10-2 this season when out-rebounding an opponent. The Falcons averaged 34.7 rebounds per game. Air Force's losses came at home to Colorado State, 83-79, and at Fresno State, 64-63. The Falcons out-rebounded the Rams, 37-28, and Fresno State, 31-28.
FREE THROW SHOOTING UP AND DOWN
Air Force shot 68.3 percent from the free throw line this season. The Falcons hit over 80 percent seven times while shooting under a 60 percent nine times.
Air Force hit a season-high 89.5 percent (17-19) at Colorado State on March 5. Air Force hit big free throws in the final minutes. The team shot just 66.7 percent against Wyoming Feb. 2, but hit 11 of the last 14, including 7-10 in the final two minutes. The Falcons added a 79.3 percent effort against UNLV, including six straight in the final two minutes.
BIG TURNAROUNDS
Air Force defeated UNLV and New Mexico at home in February, avenging road losses to each earlier in the season. The Falcons lost by a combined 65 points, 36 at UNLV and 29 at New Mexico. Air Force posted a 74-point turnaround at home, going from -65 to +9. Air Force beat UNLV, 79-74, and New Mexico, 76-72.
RARE ACCOMPLISHMENT AT SDSU
Air Force shot 52 percent in its 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 Feb. 13 was UNLV on Jan. 16, 2013.
INJURY UPDATE
Air Force lost two starters to season-ending injuries during the season. Starting point guard Trevor Lyons was 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 lost 40 man-games due to injury this season. Manning missed 27 games while Lyons was out 10. Zach Moer missed three and Hayden Graham one.
FALCONS USED 13 LINEUPS
Air Force used 13 different starting lineups this season. Six Falcons have made the first start of their careers this season: Zach Moer, Joe Tuss, Kyle Broekhuis, Jacob Van, Pervis Louder and Frank Toohey. Zach Kocur was the lone Falcon to start every game. Kocur, C.J. Siples, and Dezmond James were the only Falcons to play in all 32 games.
NON-CONFERENCE RECAP
- Air Force finished the non-conference season with a 9-4 record.
- The team's nine wins are the most in the Dave Pilipovich area and most since 2011-12 when the team won 10.
- Air Force finished the non-conference slate with an RPI of 107, the fourth-best in the conference.
- The Falcons were one of three MW teams to win two non-conference road games.
- Air Force's four non-conference losses came to teams with a combined 40-12 record (.769).
FALCONS DEFENSE IMPROVED
Air Force has held 26 of 32 opponents under 50 percent shooting this season. Colorado (52.1), UNLV (50.0), New Mexico (63.0), Nevada (52.1) and Utah State (50.0) were the only opponents to hit 50 percent or better.
Air Force allowed only eight opponents (Colorado, Army, UNLV (2), Colorado State (2), New Mexico and Utah State) to shoot 40 percent or better from 3-point range this season.
The team held Boise State to just 35.2 percent from the field and 22.7 from 3-point territory. Air Force also held Boise State to a season-low 53 points.
GRAHAM AMONG MW LEADERS
Junior Hayden Graham was 12th in the MW in scoring (13.8) and 10th in rebounding (6.3). He is also fourth in field goal percentage (48.4) and third in minutes played (35.9).
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 added his fifth double-double of the season and first in conference play with 21 points and 11 rebounds against New Mexico. Graham had all 21 points and nine rebounds in the second half.
VAN STEPPED UP
Sophomore Jacob Van started the last seven games for Air Force and responded with seven double-figure scoring games and led the Falcons in scoring five times. He averaged 19.4 points during the stretch to lead the team.
He hit 50.5 percent (48-95) from the field and 43.8 percent (14-32) of his 3-pointers.
Van saved his best for last, scoring a career-high 37 points in 43 minutes vs. UNLV in the opening round of the MW tournament. Van his 12 field goals and 11-of-14 free throws, including three straight with three seconds left in double overtime to force a third OT. His 37 points are the most by a Falcon this season and tie as the 11th most in school history. The last time an Air Force player scored more was Jarmica Reese with 40 at UNLV in 1998.
He recorded then career highs of 17 points and four assists in 32 minutes at San Diego State Feb. 13 in his first start of the stretch.
He one-upped himself in Air Force's win over UNLV, recording a then-career-high 21 points to lead Air Force. Van set a new career-high with 22 points and matched his career high with three 3-pointers to lead Air Force past New Mexico. He hit 7-14 field goals and had a career-high five rebounds in 37 minutes.
Van scored 11 points and had three rebounds and three assists in a career-high 39 minutes at Fresno State. He added 10 points and a career-high five steals vs. Utah State. His five steals are the most by a Falcon since Max Yon tied the school record with seven vs. Colorado Christian in 2013. They are the most in a conference game by a Falcon since Tim Anderson tied the record of seven vs. San Diego State in 2008. Van led the Falcons with 18 points at Colorado State. He also grabbed a career-best five rebounds.
Van joins Hayden Graham as the only Falcons with back-to-back 20-plus-point efforts this season. He was the fourth Falcon overall to score 20-plus this season, joining Graham (6), Trevor Lyons (2) and CJ Siples (1).
Van earned Madness Mountain West Men's Basketball Player of the Week for his exceptional performance during action vs. UNLV and New Mexico.
LYONS OUT FOR SEASON
Sophomore guard Trevor Lyons missed the final 10 games of the season due to injury. He last played Jan. 30 at San Jose State.
Lyons led the team in assists (2.8) and steals (1.4) and was 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 hit the game-winner twice during the 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.
SIPLES STEPPED UP
Sophomore CJ Siples stepped up big-time since becoming the team's starting point guard the last 10 games. He has helped lead the Falcons to four wins and scored in double figures six times. Siples has averaged 12.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists per game. He shot 53.8 percent (42-78) from the field, 55.6 percent (15-27) from 3-point territory and 71.1 percent (27-38) 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. He added 13 points and five assists vs. Utah State. Siples scored 14 points and matched his career high with seven rebounds at Colorado State.
KOCUR CLOSED STRONG
Junior Zach Kocur averaged 14.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game the six games. He hit 43.8 percent (28-64) from the field and 44.7 percent (17-38) from three while scoring in double figures in five of the six games.
He scored a season-high 19 points and had six rebounds and two steals to help Air Force beat UNLV. He matched his previous season high with three 3-pointers, going 3-6. Kocur scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds, had three assists and two steals in 38 minutes vs. New Mexico. He matched his season high with 19 points and had eight rebounds at Fresno State. Kocur scored 13 points and hit a season-best four 3-pointers at Colorado State. He closed the season with his first-career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in 50 minutes vs. UNLV in the MW Tournament. He also added five assists and three steals.
Kocur was third on the team in scoring with a 9.6 average and was second in rebounding with a 5.4 norm. He ranked eighth in the MW in defensive rebounds with a 4.8 average.
TOOHEY ANSWERED CALL
Sophomore Frank Toohey averaged 9.1 points and 4.6 rebounds the last 11 games. He hit 52.6 percent (30-57) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-13) from 3-point territory and 76.1 percent (35-46) from the three throw line.
Toohey scored a career-high 17 points and had 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. 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. Toohey scored 10 points and hit a career-best two 3-pointers at Colorado State. He closed the season with 14 points and eight rebounds vs. UNLV in the MW tournament.
TEAM'S 3-POINT STREAK HITS 214
Air Force's consecutive games streak of hitting at least one 3-pointer hit the 200-game mark at UNLV Jan. 16. Air Force has hit at least one 3-pointer in 214 straight games dating back to Nov. 21, 2009 vs. Northern Colorado.
NOTEWORTHY
- Air Force opened the season 6-2 for the second time under head coach Dave Pilipovich. The Falcons also started 2012-13, his first as head coach, with a 6-2 record. The 6-2 record ties as the second-best in school history. The best eight-game start in school history came in 2006-07 when the team was 7-1 under head coach Jeff Bzdelik.
- Air Force defeated Denver, 61-59, Dec. 5 to win on the road for the first time this season and first time since winning at San Jose State, 66-52, on Jan. 28 last season. The win is Air Force's first in a true road game over a non-conference opponent since winning at UC-Riverside on Dec. 22, 2012.
- Air Force posted its second non-conference road win this season, beating UC Davis, 67-60, Dec. 19. The win marked the first time since 2013-14 the Falcons have won two true road non-conference games. That year Air Force won at Citadel (77-70) and UC Riverside (61-53).
- Air Force improved to 9-8 all-time in MW openers with a 64-57 win over San Jose State. The Falcons have won five of their last six conference openers, including four straight at home.
- Air Force head coach Dave Pilipovich paid for 509 fans to come to the Western State game on Dec. 29. The coach came up with the idea to have fans come to the ticket office and tell them Coach P sent you and receive a free ticket. There were 509 fans that did, resulting in a season-high attendance of 2,009 for the game.
- Air Force has had three players, juniors Hayden Graham and Zach Kocur and sophomore Trevor Lyons, top the 500-point mark for thier careers this season. Reaching the 500-point mark places them in the top 75 in career scoring at the Academy.
RECORD BOOK UPDATE
- Air Force scored a season-high 97 points vs. Citadel which is the most since scoring 102 vs. Western State on Nov. 15, 2012.
- Air Force's 97 points are the most against a Division I team since scoring 111 vs. Denver on Feb. 16, 1999. The 97 points are the most at home against a Division I opponent since scoring 100 vs. Cal Poly SLO on Dec. 6, 1997.
- The 190 combined points in the Citadel game are the most since scoring 199 in a 111-88 win over Denver on Dec. 16, 1999.
- The 114 points combined in the second half are the most since setting the school record of 122 between Air Force (65) and Denver (57) on Feb. 16, 1999.
- Air Force's 62 second half points are the most since a school-record 65 points vs. Denver on Feb. 16, 1999.
- Air Force hit the 100-point mark against UNLV in the opening round of the MW tournament in a 108-102 triple overtime loss. The team his the century mark for the first time since beating Denver, 111-88, Feb. 16, 1999.
- The UNLV game is the first that Air Force and its opponent each hit the 100-point mark.
- Air Force tied a school record with five players fouling out. The last time it happened was vs. BYU Jan. 19, 1989.
- The 210 combined points is a school record for Air Force, breaking the mark of 201 vs. TCU Jan. 21, 1999. The Horned Frogs beat Air Force, 114-87, in that game.
- The three overtime game is the second-longest in Air Force history and longest since Air Force lost at Wyoming, 83-76, Jan. 28, 2002 in four overtimes.
- Frank Toohey tied a school record for best free throw percentage in a conference game, going 10-of-10 vs. UNLV. 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.
- Jacob Van recorded a career-high five steals vs. Utah State which is just two off the school record of seven. His five steals are the most by a Falcon since Max Yon tied the school record with seven vs. Colorado Christian in 2013. They are the most in a conference game since Tim Anderson tied the record vs. San Diego State in 2008. Van scored a career-high 37 points against UNLV in the MW tournament. His 37 points are the 11th most in school history.
PILIPOVICH BECOMES THE FIRST
Air Force head coach Dave Pilipovich is already setting records as head coach at Air Force. In just his fourth season, Pilipovich has led Air Force to three of its eight conference home winning records. Air Force finished 5-4 this season. The coach led the Falcons to a 5-4 mark last season and a 7-1 mark in 2013.
Pilipovich has led the Falcons to six or more conference wins three times. He is the only coach to do three times. Jeff Bzdelik is the only other Air Force coach to do it more than once (2006, 2007).
The coach has guided the Falcons to 14 overall wins the last two seasons which ties as the 12th most in the 58 years of Air Force basketball.
HONORS IN 2015-16
- 2 - CJ Siples - Named Mountain West player of the week and Madness Mountain West player of the week for Feb. 8.
- 15 - Jacob Van - Named Madness Mountain West Men's Basketball Player of the Week for Feb. 22.
- 20 - Trevor Lyons - Named preseason fourth-team all-Mountain West by CollegeSportsMadness.com.
- 35 - Hayden Graham - Named honorable mention all-Mountain West ... also earned honorable mention all-MW in the media poll.
- 41 - Zach Moer - Among the nominees for the 2016 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Team.
