Air Force Unable To Overtake UT Arlington At UC LBM Coast-To-Coast Challenge

FORT WORTH, Texas - Air Force men's basketball (7-4) fell to UT Arlington (6-4), 76-73, in the opening game of a tripleheader at The US LBM Coast-To-Coast Challenge Saturday afternoon at Dickies Arena. Sophomore Rytis Petraitis led Air Force with 21 points.

UT Arlington forced Air Force into a season-high 19 turnovers, leading to 25 points. Guard Phillip Russell, playing in his first game of the season since becoming eligible, erupted for 28 points for UTA. Dajuan Gordon came off the bench for 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Air Force led by as many as eight points in the first-half, leading 22-14 at the 12:07 mark. The Mavericks then took control of the game with a 10-0 run to go up five at 29-24 at the 6:03 mark in the first half. The Falcons tied the game up three more times before the half, but trailed 42-37 at the break.

The Falcons found itself down seven to start the second half, before a 7-0 run tied the game up at 46-46. UT Arlington then scored three-consecutive three-point plays to go up nine. The Falcons kept the game close the rest of the way out, but could not overtake the Mavs.

Air Force got the game down to three points at the end of the game with a chance to tie. After a missed UTA free throw with three seconds left, Ethan Taylor had a chance to tie the game. His shot from half court hit the front of the rim as time expired.

Air Force had 68 of its 73 points come from Texas natives on the team. Petraitis, from Arlington, was one shy of his career-high, adding a team high seven rebounds. Taylor, from Houston, added 16 points, knocking down three three's. Forward Beau Becker, from Dallas, scored 13 points on 5 of 11 shooting. Jeffrey Mills, from Flower Mound, chipped in with 10 points and four assists.

Air Force shot 52 percent from the field and 73 percent from the line.

The Falcons return to action Thursday, Dec. 21, hosting Northern Colorado. The game tips at 2 pm MT.

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