Air Force Unable To Complete Rally In 73-68 Setback To Eastern Washington

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force men's basketball fell to Eastern Washington, 73-68, in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Clune Arena. The loss snapped a six-game win streak for the Falcons (7-3).

After a cold start to the game, the Air Force erased an 18-point Eastern Washington (2-6) lead, only to see the lead slip away late.

Eastern Washington went up 10-0 to start the game and Air Force found itself playing catch-up for most of the first-half. The Eagles shot 59 percent from the field in the opening half, including 71 percent from three. The Falcons struggled on offense, shooting 28 percent in the opening half to find themselves down 41-26 at the half.

The Falcons came out stronger in the second half. A 13-0 run pulled Air Force to within two points at 49-47 with 9:35 to play. The Falcons then later went on a 7-0 run, capped by a three and dunk on back-to-back plays by Ethan Taylor, to go up 57-56 with 5:31 to play.

Eastern Washington re-took the lead on the next play and did not trail the rest of the way.

The Eagles went up six points before the Falcons mounted another five point run to pull to within one at 63-62 with 2:43 to play. Eastern Washington then went on an 8-0 run to lead by nine with 1:48 to play.

Taylor led Air Force with 22 points, making four three's. Beau Becker added 17 points, tying a career-high with five made three's. Rytis Petraitis added 13 points and eight rebounds. Kellan Boylan and Jeffrey Mills added eight points each.

Jake Kyman led EWU with 25 points, going 4-of-6 from three-point range and 9-of-10 from the line. LeJuan Watts added 13 points off the bench. Eastern Washington shot 52 percent from the field and 56 percent from three.

Air Force had 11 steals for its third-consecutive game with double-digit steals.

The Falcons return to action Saturday, Dec. 16, against UT Arlington at the US LBM Coast-To-Coast Challenge at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The game tips at 4 pm CT.

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