Air Force Academy
Pacific
Pacific hands Air Force first loss of season
11/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Roberto Gallinat scored 21 points to lead four players in double figures as Pacific beat Air Force, 83-71, Tuesday night in game four of the Men Against Breast Cancer Showcase at the Academy.
Pacific started fast and took control early in the game and never trailed. The Tigers led 10-1 in the first couple of minutes and went on take a 47-29 halftime lead. Pacific extended the lead to 20 points, 51-31, early in the second half.
Air Force starting chipping away at the lead and used an 11-4 run to get as close as six points, 69-63, with 6:36 remaining. Dane Norman, Ryan Manning and Sid Tomes all hit 3-pointers to key the run. Gallinat stopped the run with a 3-pointer off an offensive rebound to extend the lead to nine points, 72-63, with 6:13 left. Air Force got as close as seven points after that, but Pacific hit six of its final eight free throws to secure the win.
Pacific hit 51.1 percent from the field and 52.9 percent from 3-point territory, including marks of 60 percent from the field and 63.6 percent from three in the first half. The Tigers out-rebounded Air Force, 37-33, and forced 13 turnovers.
Miles Reynolds added 16 points and four assists for Pacific, while Jack Williams had 13 points and Anthony Townes 11. Jahlil Tripp contributed eight points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
Air Force was led by Lavelle Scottie, who had 15 points. Lyons added 12 points and a season highs of five assists and three steals. Norman added a career-best 14 points while freshman Keaton Van Soelen recorded career highs of six points, five rebounds and three assists. Manning chipped in with nine points and five rebounds.
The Falcons shot just 38.3 percent from the field, including 28.6 percent in the first half. Air Force hit just 28.1 percent from 3-point territory. The Falcons had trailed for just 2:43 total in the first three games, but trailed Pacific for 39:43. The game was tied for 17 seconds.
Air Force falls to 3-1 overall this season. The Falcons travel to Boulder, Colo., to take on Colorado on Sunday at 2 p.m. Pacific improves to 1-3 overall and 1-0 in the Showcase.
