Air Force takes on Fresno State in MW action
1/29/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2017
THE GAME
Air Force travels to Fresno, Calif., to take on Fresno State on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. PT. This will be the second meeting between the two this season, as the Falcons beat Fresno State, 81-72, in Clune Arena Jan. 11.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV:............ ROOT Sports (Marc Stout, Dave Bollwinkel)
Radio:........ KVOR AM 740 (Jim Arthur, Dan Acheson)
THE BREAKDOWN
Quick Facts Air Force Fresno State
Overall Record: 10-11............................. 13-8
MW Record:.... 3-5................................. 5-4
Streak:............. W 1................................ L 1
Last Game:....... W 60-57 vs. SDSU............ L 65-78 at Utah St. (1/28)
Next Game:..... vs. Wyoming (2/4).............. San Diego State (2/4)
Conference:..... Mountain West ............. Mountain West
Nickname:....... Falcons.......................... Bulldogs
Location:.......... Colorado Springs, CO...... Fresno, CA
THE COACHES
Category Air Force Fresno State
Head Coach..... Dave Pilipovich............... Rodney Terry
Alma Mater..... Thiel College, 1986......... St. Edwards, 1990
School Record.. 70-84 (5th season)......... 97-92 (6th season)
Career Record.. Same............................. Same
THE SERIES
Overall......... Fresno State leads 16-5
First Meeting..Nov. 28, 1980 at Fresno (Fresno State, 55-40)
Last Meeting... Jan. 11, 2017 at USAFA (Air Force, 81-72)
Streaks......... Air Force W 1
THE SERIES
Air Force and Fresno State are meeting for the 23rd time and second time this season. The Bulldogs lead the series 16-6. Air Force snapped a seven-game Fresno State winning streak with an 81-72 victory in Clune Arena Jan. 11. Air Force has lost seven straight at Fresno since a 72-62 win Jan. 15, 1995. The teams first played Nov. 28, 1980 in Fresno, Calif. The Bulldogs won, 55-40.
EARLIER THIS SEASON
Jan. 11, 2017 at USAFA
Hayden Graham scored a 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had a season-high six assists to lead Air Force past Fresno State, 81-72, at the Academy.
The Falcon surrendered the game's first three points, but a three by Trevor Lyons tied it and a layup by Jacob Van gave the Falcons the lead for good. Air Force led for 37:32 of the game and held off every Fresno State rally in the second half.
Air Force led 37-33 at the half and used a 9-0 run early in the second half to take a 13 point lead, 54-41, with 12:02 remaining. Fresno State was never able to get closer than four points, 59-55, with 8:12 remaining. The Falcons hit 17 of 20 free throws from that point, including eight straight at one point. Air Force led by as many as 14 points in the second half.
Graham returned to the lineup after missing the Colorado State game due to illness. He added two blocks and hit eight of 13 field goals in 35 minutes. Lyons added a season-high 18 points, had four rebounds, four assists and two steals in 36 minutes. Van added 14 points and hit four straight free throws in the final minutes. Zach Kocur chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds while Ryan Manning added 10 points off the bench.
Air Force hit 51.9 percent from the field, including a 55.6 clip in the first half. The team has hit 50 percent or better five times this season, winning each game. The Falcons finished the game hitting 22 of 29 free throws (75.9 percent), had 16 assists and out-rebounded Fresno State, 39-23.
Fresno State hit 46.3 percent from the field, including just 34.6 percent from 3-point range. Paul Watson scored 20 points to lead the Bulldogs. Cullen Russo added 13 points and eight rebounds while Jahmel Taylor contributed 11 points.
Post-Game Notes
Team Notes
- The starters for Air Force were Jacob Van, Trevor Lyons, Zach Kocur, Hayden Graham and Frank Toohey. The lineup is starting for the ninth time this season and first time since Nov. 30 at New Mexico State. The Falcons have started three different lineups this season.
- Air Force improved to 9-2 at home this season, including a 2-0 mark in conference home games.
- Air Force snapped a seven-game losing streak to Fresno State, beating the Bulldogs for the first time since a 62-50 win Jan. 30, 2013 at the Academy. The Falcons snapped a two-game home losing streak to Fresno State. Air Force improved to 6-16 all-time vs. Fresno State.
- Air Force forced 10 turnovers. The Falcons have forced 10 or more turnovers in nine straight games this season.
- Air Force had five players score in double figures. The Falcons have had four or more in double figures six times this season.
- Air Force shot 51.9 percent from the field. The Falcons have hit 50 percent or better five times this season and are 5-0 in those games.
- Air Force out-rebounded Fresno State, 39-23. The team is 7-2 this season when out-rebounding an opponent.
Individual Notes
- Senior Hayden Graham returned after missing the Colorado State game due to illness. Graham recorded a season-high 21 points, eight rebounds and a season-high six assists. His previous high in assists was four vs. East Carolina Nov. 26.
- Junior Trevor Lyons returned to the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 30 at New Mexico State. Lyons responded with a season-high 18 points to mark his fifth double figure scoring game of the season and first since scoring 10 at Army Dec. 7. Lyons hit a season-high two 3-pointers.
- Junior Jacob Van scored 14 points to record his 11th double figure scoring game of the season which is second on the team.
- Junior Ryan Manning recorded his sixth game in double figures this season with 10 points. He scored in double figures for the first since scoring 10 at Wyoming Dec. 28.
- Senior Zach Kocur scored 10 points to record his 10th double figure scoring game of the season. He also finished with six rebounds.
FEBRUARY KICKS OFF 3-POINT FUNDRAISER
Making 3-point shots this basketball season has taken on additional meaning for Air Force head coach Dave Pilipovich. Pilipovich is using his spotlight on the court to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society as a part of the national Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge.
More than 20 years ago, Norm Stewart, former head coach of the University of Missouri's men's basketball program, cancer survivor, and member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, provided the vision and inspiration to create Coaches vs. Cancer. He challenged fans to pledge a dollar amount for every 3-Point shot made by his team during the season. The concept, then called the 3-Point Attack, evolved into a nationwide effort uniting coaches, fans, players, and communities across the country to assist in the fight against cancer.
Today, Coaches vs. Cancer is thrilled to announce the return of the program nationwide, now called the Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge. Fans can join Coach Pilipovich's campaign, be part of the excitement and donate for every 3-point shot made by visiting pledgeit.org/cvc-coachp. Teams can be matched up against their rival schools to see who can raise the most funds from their 3-point shots, and fans can follow the leaderboard to see who will become the 3-Point Challenge Champion.
"The 3-Point Challenge is going to revolutionize our online fundraising efforts through the Coaches vs. Cancer platform. With a few clicks to a unique URL, fans from around the country can make online pledges for their favorite teams, whether high school or college, and watch the donations from 3-point shots roll in to help fund the Society's mission," said David Doan, VP, Strategic Alliances, Sports.
Through this online platform, created by PledgeIt, basketball fans anywhere can donate funds to help the American Cancer Society save lives. Funds raised will support the Society's mission to help ensure that lifesaving cancer research continues to get funded, and people facing cancer have the help they need.
