Air Force Unable To Overtake Fresno State In 69-63 Game

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force men's basketball (4-15, 2-13 MW) dropped a 69-63 Mountain West contest to Fresno State (8-7, 6-7 MW) Thursday night at Clune Arena. Guard AJ Walker had a career-night for the Falcons with 33 points.

Air Force nearly rallied back from a 16 point deficit, getting the game down to one point with under three minutes to play. The Falcons were unable to get the clutch bucket, as the Bulldogs were able to pull away with the win.

Walker set a career-high for points, which was the fourth-most points scored in a conference game in the Mountain West era and the most points by a Falcon since Ryan Swan scored 37 against Wyoming in 2019. Walker's 11 free throw attempts and makes, six three's and five steals were all career high's as well. Walker also played all 40 minutes for the fourth straight game.

Sophomore Nikc Jackson was Air Force's second-leading scorer with seven points. Sophomore Carter Murphy added five points. Ameka Akaya, Chris Joyce and Abe Kinrade added four points each.

Junior Ballard led Fresno State with 17 points. Christian Gray added 11 points off the bench.

Fresno State jumped out to a 33-22 halftime lead, as Air Force struggled to find its groove on offense. The Bulldogs then went up 16 at 40-24 with 18:05 in the second half. The Falcons then out-scored the Bulldogs 39-29 the rest of the way, but the rally was just short.

Walker scored 25 of his 33 points in the second half, including all 11 of his free throw makes and attempts. Air Force shot 40 percent from the field but made 11 three's, its third game in double-digit three's in its last four.

Air Force hosts Fresno State in the second game of the series on Saturday, Feb. 13. Tip time is 1 pm and the game will be on the Mountain West Network.

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