Buzzer-Beater Downs Air Force 70-67 Against San José State

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force men's basketball (7-8, 0-2 MW) fell to San José State (8-9, 1-3 MW), 70-67, in Mountain West play Saturday night at Clune Arena. Myron Amey Jr. made a game-winning three-point basket as time expired to lift the Spartans to the win.

The loss spoiled Air Force rallying back from 13 points down at the half.

After a subpar start to the game, where SJSU shot 62 percent from the field and 50 percent from three in the opening half, the Falcons came roaring back to open the second half.

Trailing 46-33 at halftime, Air Force came out with renewed vigor to open the second half. Air Force held the Spartans scoreless for the first six minutes of the second half, while going on a 9-0 run to cut it to a four point game.

The Falcons kept grinding away at the deficit and took its first lead of the second half at 60-59 at the 3:41 mark. Rytis Petraitis put Air Force ahead with a pair of free throws.

Air Force seemed to take control of the game when it went up by five points with 2:22 to play on Ethan Taylor's fifth three of the game.

San Jose State rallied however, by out-scoring the Falcons 9-1 the rest of the game.

Trailing by one, Air Force tied it up on a free throw by Petraitis with with 10 seconds left to play. On the ensuing SJSU possession, the Falcons forced a missed shot and Petraitis pulled down the rebound with 1.5 seconds left to play. Unfortunately, Petraitis was called for a turnover when his heel clipped the out-of-bounds line when attempting a last-second full-court shot.

San Jose State got one more opportunity and Amey converted on an open three on the left wing after an Air Force defender stumbled defending him.

The loss spoiled a 54 percent shooting night from the Falcons, including 43 percent from three. Taylor paced three Falcons in double figures with 19 points. Beau Becker scored 18 points, to go with seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Petraitis scored 15 with seven rebounds.

Amey led SJSU with 16 points and nine rebounds. Tibet Gorener scored 15 and Alvaro Cardenas added 11. San Jose State shot 48 percent on the night.

Air Force returns to action Tuesday, Jan. 16, at #17/18 Colorado State. The game tips at 7 pm MT.

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