Friday, November 11
USAFA, CO - Clune Arena
3:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
1-1,0-0Mountain West
75
vs
71
Delaware
1-1,0-0CAA
1
2
F
Delaware
27
44
71
Air Force
37
38
75
Photo by: Photo by Trevor Cokley
Air Force Holds Off Delaware, 75-71
11/11/2022 6:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force men's basketball earned a hard-fought 75-71 win over Delaware (1-1) in its home-opener on Veteran's Day Friday afternoon at Clune Arena. A clutch three-point basket by senior Carter Murphy with 40 seconds left to play helped lift the Falcons to its first win of the season.
Air Force led for much of the game and by as many as 15 points before Delaware mounted a late game rally. The Blue Hens tied it up at 69-69 on a three by Christian Ray with 1:28 to play.
On the ensuing possession, Air Force missed a three, but senior Camden Vander Zwaag was able to get the rebound. Vander Zwaag then missed his shot, but sophomore Lucas Moerman was able to get another offensive board. Moerman then found Murphy wide open at the top of the three-point line. Murphy calmly drained the three to put Air Force back up at 72-69.
Sophomore Jake Heidbreder, who scored a career-high 26 points, closed out the game by making three free throws to help seal the win. Heidbreder was clutch from the free throw line, making 11 of 12 from the charity line. He also added seven rebounds.
Joining Heidbreder in double-figures was sophomore guard Ethan Taylor. Taylor scored 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting, adding three rebounds and three assists.
Vander Zwaag scored nine points, adding career-high's of six rebounds and five assists. Moerman had a career-high four assists and senior Nikc Jackson had three blocks, the most in a game since his sophomore year.
Air Force had a strong contribution from its bench, which scored 22 points. Freshman Marcell McCreary scored seven points in reserve and Murphy added six. Freshman Rytis Petraitis added five points and four rebounds in 11 minutes.
Air Force shot 47 percent from the field and out-rebounded Delaware 39-35. It was Air Force's most rebounds in a game since the 2019-20 season.
Guard Jameer Nelson Jr. led Delaware, a 2022 NCAA Tournament team, with 18 points and seven rebounds. Forward Jyare Davis scored 14 and guard Ebby Asamoah added 13.
Air Force jumped ahead 37-27 at the half, aided by strong defensive play and seven made three's. The Falcons held the Blue Hens without a bucket over the final 7:33 of the first-half and just one made field goal of the last 12 minutes.
Air Force returns to action Monday, Nov. 14, hosting Texas A&M-Commerce. The game tips at 7 pm MT and will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
Air Force led for much of the game and by as many as 15 points before Delaware mounted a late game rally. The Blue Hens tied it up at 69-69 on a three by Christian Ray with 1:28 to play.
On the ensuing possession, Air Force missed a three, but senior Camden Vander Zwaag was able to get the rebound. Vander Zwaag then missed his shot, but sophomore Lucas Moerman was able to get another offensive board. Moerman then found Murphy wide open at the top of the three-point line. Murphy calmly drained the three to put Air Force back up at 72-69.
Sophomore Jake Heidbreder, who scored a career-high 26 points, closed out the game by making three free throws to help seal the win. Heidbreder was clutch from the free throw line, making 11 of 12 from the charity line. He also added seven rebounds.
Joining Heidbreder in double-figures was sophomore guard Ethan Taylor. Taylor scored 14 points on 5 of 10 shooting, adding three rebounds and three assists.
Vander Zwaag scored nine points, adding career-high's of six rebounds and five assists. Moerman had a career-high four assists and senior Nikc Jackson had three blocks, the most in a game since his sophomore year.
Air Force had a strong contribution from its bench, which scored 22 points. Freshman Marcell McCreary scored seven points in reserve and Murphy added six. Freshman Rytis Petraitis added five points and four rebounds in 11 minutes.
Air Force shot 47 percent from the field and out-rebounded Delaware 39-35. It was Air Force's most rebounds in a game since the 2019-20 season.
Guard Jameer Nelson Jr. led Delaware, a 2022 NCAA Tournament team, with 18 points and seven rebounds. Forward Jyare Davis scored 14 and guard Ebby Asamoah added 13.
Air Force jumped ahead 37-27 at the half, aided by strong defensive play and seven made three's. The Falcons held the Blue Hens without a bucket over the final 7:33 of the first-half and just one made field goal of the last 12 minutes.
Air Force returns to action Monday, Nov. 14, hosting Texas A&M-Commerce. The game tips at 7 pm MT and will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
Team Stats
UD
USAFA
FG%
.333
.472
3FG%
.308
.348
FT%
.833
.680
RB
35
39
TO
8
13
STL
6
4
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
11
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
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