Wyoming downs Air Force in Mountain West action

Feb. 4, 2017

Justin James scored 26 points and had seven assists to lead Wyoming past Air Force, 83-74, Saturday afternoon in a Mountain West game in Clune Arena.

The Cowboys opened the second half with a 13-2 run to take its biggest lead of the game, 60-38, with 16:04 remaining. Air Force changed its entire lineup and the reserves responded with a 19-1 run to cut the lead to six points, 61-55, with 9:38 to play. Pervis Louder keyed the run with nine points. Wyoming scored four straight to extend the lead back to 10 points, 65-55, and never allowed Air Force closer than eight points after that. The Cowboys hit eight-of-eight free throws in the final 1:46 to secure the win.

Alan Herndon added 16 points and five rebounds for Wyoming while Jeremy Lieberman chipped in with 14 points. The Cowboys hit 16 of their first 20 shots and ended the first half shooting 62.1 percent from the field in the first half to build a 47-36 halftime lead.

Air Force switched its defenses in the second half and cooled the Cowboys, holding them to 37.8 percent in the stanza, but Wyoming finished the game hitting 50 percent from the field. Wyoming out-rebounded Air Force, 39-37 and held Air Force to just 35.8 percent shooting.

Frank Toohey scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Air Force. Louder chipped in with a career-best 13 points and a season-high six rebounds. CJ Siples added a season-best six rebounds.

"We were able to get it to six points right before the half, but had a bad last few minutes and let it get back to 11 at halftime. We talked about that at halftime and then let them come out and get a big run to open the second half and we only get two points and they were on free throws," Air Force head coach Dave Pilipovich said. "I was really happy with the second group. They gave us some energy and tempo and got us back in it. We held them to good second half numbers shooting the ball, but we got ourselves in too big a hole."

Air Force falls to 10-13 overall and 3-7 in Mountain West play. Wyoming improved to 15-9 overall and 5-6 in the conference.

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