Air Force Rallies to First Round Win Over SDSU, 56-48

LAS VEGAS - A third quarter surge propelled ninth-seeded Air Force to victory over eighth-seeded San Diego State, 56-48, in the first round of the 2021 Air Force Reserve Mountain West Basketball Championships, Sunday afternoon in the Thomas and Mack Center. The win marks the Falcons' second-straight season of advancing to the conference tournament quarterfinals.

Veteran leaders Kaelin Immel and Riley Snyder helped change the course of the game in the second half, scoring 26 points after the halftime break. They combined for just seven first half points. Immel finished with a game-high 17 points, while Snyder, who was tabbed honorable mention All-MW earlier today, finished with 16. Immel knocked down a game-high three three-pointers to help lift the Falcons to victory.

Air Force's defensive abilities were put on display in the third quarter as they battled out from an eight-point deficit behind critical SDSU turnovers caused by a staunch Falcon defense. Air Force went on to build a three-point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

The teams scored back-and-forth through the first half of the fourth quarter but a three-pointer from Snyder starting a chain of events from which the Aztecs would not recover. The Falcons didn't look back as they put up an 11-0 scoring run in the fourth quarter ahead of a San Diego State team running out of steam.

Air Force was led in rebounding by Briana Autrey-Thompson, Emily Conroe and Snyder with seven boards each. Autrey-Thompson finished with nine points while Conroe finished with five. MW All-Defensive Team selectee Kassady Huffman blocked four shots and collected six rebounds on the night. She is the program's all-time leader in blocks and leads the MW in blocks this season.

The Aztecs were led by Sophia Ramos and Tea Adams with 13 points each. Mercedes Staples snagged the lion's share of Aztec rebounds with eight on the day.

The Falcons continue tournament action, tomorrow (March 8), against top-seeded New Mexico, at noon PT, in the Thomas and Mack Center. The Falcons split the regular-season series with the Lobos, knocking off the powerhouse, 75-73, in the second meeting at USAFA.

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