WALKER LEADS FALCONS INTO MW QUARTERFINALS

Recap courtesy of Mountain West

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Sophomore guard A.J. Walker scored a career-high 24 points as Air Force defeated Fresno State 77-70 to advance in the 2020 Air Force Reserve Mountain West Men's Championship Wednesday afternoon at Thomas & Mack Center. Air Force (12-19) survived Fresno State's 3-point barrage to advance to the 2020 Air Force Reserve Mountain West Men's Championship quarterfinal against top-seeded San Diego State.

Walker connected on 5-of-7 from 3-point range, while senior forward Lavelle Scottie moved into fourth-place in the school's all-time career scoring list with 21 points in the contest.

Air Force-Fresno State quick hitters below:

With the win, Air Force advances to the quarterfinals of the 2020 Air Force Reserve Mountain West Men's Basketball Championship and will take on top-seeded San Diego State. The Falcons are seeking their first-ever quarterfinal win.

For the first time since the MW tournament expanded to its current format in 2014, the Falcons have advanced to back-to-back quarterfinals.

Air Force was led by a career-high 24 points from sophomore guard A.J. Walker, surpassing his previous best of 21 points vs Nevada on Dec. 7, 2019.

Walker was 5-of-7 from 3-point range, setting a new season-high for 3-pointers in a game.

Along with Walker, senior forward Lavelle Scottie had 21 points and six rebounds on 9-of-18 shooting.

With his 21 points, Scottie moved into fourth all-time in school history for career points, passing Michael Lyons (2009-13). Scottie now has 1,540 career points, and is 10 points shy of Tim Harris (1977-81) for third on the school's all-time list.

Air Force is now 10-0 this season when leading at the half.

Fresno State shot lights out from 3-point range, making 16-of-36 from beyond the arc, including 10-of-21 in the second half. The 16 made 3-pointers are tied for the second most in Mountain West tournament history, which Fresno State also accomplished vs. Air Force in the 2019 tournament.

The Bulldogs hit five-straight 3-pointers, including a four-point play, on five-straight possessions spanning from 8:09 to 4:33 left in the second half. Fresno State trailed Air Force 58-50 before the run began and led 66-64 by the end of it.

Leading the way from 3-point range was senior guard New Williams, who registered 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the 3-point line. It was the third time this season that Williams has made at least six 3-pointers in a game.

Fresno State senior forward Nate Grimes recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Footer

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the u.s air force of non-u.s. government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the u.s. air force may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for department of defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.

Next Event

Team Stats

A.J. Walker

Lavelle Scottie

Ryan Swan

Caleb Morris

Players Mentioned

Lavelle Scottie

A.J. Walker

Players Mentioned

Lavelle Scottie

A.J. Walker

Footer