Basketball: Falcons crack Associated Press Poll at No. 24

  • Published
  • By Wayne Amann
  • Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  It may be finals week at the Academy, but the Air Force men's basketball team has been acing tests all season.

The Falcons slammed Norfolk State 70-47, Dec. 13 following a Dec. 7 record-breaking 82-31 thrashing of neighboring Division III Colorado College, both at Clune Arena, a graveyard for visiting teams.

The victories showcased why the bluesuiters entered the Associated Press College Basketball Poll at No. 24 and moved up three places to No. 20 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. Both rankings are the highest in program history.

"Naturally we're excited to be there," Air Force head coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "But we know we have a tough schedule ahead, some tough tests. (Being ranked) is something we strive for. Now, the most important thing is to stay there."

The Falcons' (11-1) last two games solidified their new-found national stature.

Air Force opened against Colorado College with a 30-0 run on their way to an insurmountable 50-6 halftime lead. The Falcons defense, which induced 19 first half
Tiger turnovers, held Colorado scoreless for the first 10:27 of the game.

Colorado's six first half points are the fewest Air Force has allowed in one half in school history.

The blowout gave Bzdelik the luxury of emptying his bench midway through the first half and for the rest of the game. Reserve point guard Adam Hood logged the most court time, 26 minutes, and responded with career highs of nine points, six assists and four rebounds.

"I'm pretty used to it," the junior said when asked if fatigue set in. "In practice we always play hard in 20-minute games when the starters go against the second unit."

Senior starting forward Jacob Burtschi had a game-high 10 points in just 10 minutes.

Norfolk State (1-5), a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, was a more difficult test, but one the Falcons figured out quickly to solidify their record.

With the game tied at 5, Air Force went on a 30-14 run, highlighted by six 3-pointers to take a commanding 35-19 halftime lead. The Falcons made a season-high 15-of-29 3-point attempts in the game, including a trio by returning point guard Matt McCraw, who sat out the previous two games with a sprained ankle.

"We shoot about 500 3's in practice every week," said McCraw who finished with 11
points and logged a team-high 33 minutes.

Burtschi led the balanced Falcon attack with 14 points, while Dan Nwaelele added 12, and sophomore guard Andrew Henke enjoyed a career-high 11.

The Air Force offense dished out a season-high 24 assists setting up its 26 baskets.

"We attacked these games with the mindset of getting better no matter who we play," senior center Nick Welch said. "We did that."

The Falcons have won 23 consecutive home games, third longest streak in the country and have won 31 straight times at Clune Arena against non-conference opponents.

Air Force's next test is Dec. 23 when it travels to the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

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