Thursday, December 21
USAFA, CO - Clune Arena
2:00 pm MT
Air Force Academy
7-5,0-0Mountain West
79
vs
83
Northern Colorado
5-6,0-0Big Sky
1
2
F
Northern Colo.
43
40
83
Air Force
43
36
79
Air Force Downed By Northern Colorado, 83-79
12/21/2023 5:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force men's basketball (7-5) fell to Northern Colorado (5-6), 83-79, in its final non-conference game of the year Thursday afternoon at Clune Arena.
Air Force shot a season-best 58 percent from the field and 52 percent from three-point range. Unfortunately, Northern Colorado was just as hot, shooting 56 percent from the field and 45 percent from three.
In a back-and-forth affair that featured six lead-changes and 10 ties, the Falcons were unable to get the winning shot at the end. Down two with under a minute to play, the Falcons attempted to set up a shot to tie or take the lead. Junior Ethan Taylor was forced to get up a contested three that missed the mark with 10 seconds left. Northern Colorado rebounded the ball and then Jaron Rillie made both of his free throws with three seconds left to ice the game.
Junior Beau Becker led Air Force with 26 points. Becker went 10 of 15 from the field and set a career-high for three's made, going 6 of 9 from downtown. Becker also tied for the team-lead with two blocked shots.
Sophomore Rytis Petraitis scored 18 points to go with a career-high eight assists. Petraitis was 7 of 10 from the field and also set a career-high for three's by going 3 of 3 from long range.
Sophomore Kellan Boylan added 15 points and nine rebounds and junior Ethan Taylor chipped-in with 10 points and four assists.
Saint Thomas led Northern Colorado with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Rillie scored 14 and Riley Abercrombie added 11.
The Falcons return to action Tuesday, Jan. 2, opening Mountain West play hosting Utah State at Clune. Tip time is 2 pm
Air Force shot a season-best 58 percent from the field and 52 percent from three-point range. Unfortunately, Northern Colorado was just as hot, shooting 56 percent from the field and 45 percent from three.
In a back-and-forth affair that featured six lead-changes and 10 ties, the Falcons were unable to get the winning shot at the end. Down two with under a minute to play, the Falcons attempted to set up a shot to tie or take the lead. Junior Ethan Taylor was forced to get up a contested three that missed the mark with 10 seconds left. Northern Colorado rebounded the ball and then Jaron Rillie made both of his free throws with three seconds left to ice the game.
Junior Beau Becker led Air Force with 26 points. Becker went 10 of 15 from the field and set a career-high for three's made, going 6 of 9 from downtown. Becker also tied for the team-lead with two blocked shots.
Sophomore Rytis Petraitis scored 18 points to go with a career-high eight assists. Petraitis was 7 of 10 from the field and also set a career-high for three's by going 3 of 3 from long range.
Sophomore Kellan Boylan added 15 points and nine rebounds and junior Ethan Taylor chipped-in with 10 points and four assists.
Saint Thomas led Northern Colorado with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Rillie scored 14 and Riley Abercrombie added 11.
The Falcons return to action Tuesday, Jan. 2, opening Mountain West play hosting Utah State at Clune. Tip time is 2 pm
Team Stats
UNC
USAFA
FG%
.564
.527
3FG%
.450
.517
FT%
.857
.750
RB
28
21
TO
12
11
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
10
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
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