Air Force Academy
San Jose State
Falcons fall to San Jose State in OT, 83-78
2/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Brandon Clark scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead San Jose State past Air Force, 83-78, in overtime Saturday afternoon at The Events Center in San Jose, Calif.
The Spartans overcame a 13-point halftime deficit and took its first lead, 70-68, since 2-0 to open the game with a basket and free throw from Brandon Mitchell with 3:18 remaining. Trevor Lyons scored with 2:34 remaining to tie it at 70-all which is where it remained at the end of regulation. Both teams missed opportunities to win it in regulation.
The Falcons scored the first four points in overtime on baskets by Jacob Van and Ryan Manning to take a 74-70 lead with 3:45 left. San Jose State scored the next nine points and took the lead for good, 75-74, on a basket by Clark. The Spartans hit eight of eight free throws in the final 26 seconds to secure the win.
Isaac Thornton scored 17 points and Brandon Mitchell added 12 points for San Jose State. Ryan Wellage chipped in with 10 points. San Jose State shot 45.9 percent from the field, including 24.1 percent from three. The Spartans missed their first 12 threes in the game finishing the first half 0-12. They hit seven in the second half. San Jose State out-rebounded the Falcons, 33-27, and forced 18 turnovers.
Ryan Manning, who got his first start of the season, scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Falcons. Jacob Van added 12 points, five rebounds and a team-best four assists. Freshman Lavelle Scottie added a career-high-tying 11 points. Trevor Lyons chipped in with eight points, three assists and a career-high four steals.
Air Force hit a season-road-best 52.3 percent from the field on 31-of-59 shooting. The Falcons hit 78.6 percent from the free throw line and had 11 steals.
"I'm proud of our effort, proud of our energy and proud of our togetherness and the way we fought back today," Air Force head coach Dave Pilipovich said. "We were able to get it to overtime and score the first four points, but I really think it comes down to where we are right now that they were able to make the winning play at the end of the game and we were not. I feel for these guys because they are hurting and they are giving us great effort."
The Falcons fell to 10-17 overall and 3-11 in the conference. San Jose State improved to 14-11 overall and 7-7 in the Mountain West.
