Air Force Academy – Air Force guard Matt McCraw explained that it only appeared the Falcons were playing out of control Tuesday night when they took over the game in the second half and extended the best start in school history to 9-1.
Just when it looked like the superior height of the Saint Mary’s Gaels would be too much to overcome, first-year AFA coach Jeff Bzdelik went to a full-court press and the Falcons ran away to a 63-51 victory before 3,153 fans at Clune Arena.
“As long as we’re talking and communicating, we can do anything,” said McCraw, a junior. “Everything won’t be by the book. But as long as you’re talking, everything will be all right.
“We fed off the press. Saint Mary’s had the three 7-footers. They aren’t the best ball- handlers. Coach made a great call with the press, and we ran it really well.”
McCraw fueled Air Force’s pressure defense at the critical point of the second half. The Gaels became frustrated and committed 23 turnovers overall, 10 in the second half. The Falcons finished with 14 steals.
McCraw (15 points) scored to make it a 32-32 game with 13:28 left. Over the next 4:28, the Falcons went on a 20-4 run and then coasted to a victory that could be important if postseason consideration comes into play.
Antoine Hood, Jacob Burtschi, Dan Nwaelele and Tim Anderson contributed to the decisive run, but it was McCraw’s 3-pointer with 9:01 left that put the Falcons ahead 50-36.
“We didn’t do a good job against the press,” Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett said. “The game was close, but it ballooned to 10 with the press and that was that.”
Once the Falcons got going, Bennett went to a smaller lineup in hopes of matching the pace. Gaels senior center Reda Rhalimi scored all of his 10 points in the first half, but played only six minutes in the second half while watching the pace of the game quicken.
The Falcons avenged a 59-58 loss at Saint Mary’s last season.
Bzdelik said the Falcons could benefit down the road from beating the Gaels this season.
“Every win is critical,” the former Nuggets coach said. “Saint Mary’s is going to have a great season in a great conference. They’re big and they’re good. So wins like this are critical. If the wins mount up, games like this are meaningful. They’re all meaningful, but this one, yes.”
The Falcons shot only 34.6 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes as the taller Gaels built a 20-7 advantage in rebounding.
Air Force’s offense wasn’t just bad from the outside early. Hood missed two layups and Burtschi missed one, and they combined for just nine points.
Rhalimi’s field goal in the final minute of the first half lifted Saint Mary’s to a 25-23 halftime lead.
SAINT MARY’S (1-4)
Kickert 5-9 1-1 11, Collins 2-5 4-6 8, Rhalimi 5-8 0-0 10, Golden 2-3 2-2 8, Winston 0-1 0-0 0, White 0-1 2-4 2, Hunter 0-1 2-2 2, DaSilva 0-0 0-0 0, O’Leary 1-4 0-0 3, McCaughey 0-0 0-0 0, Simpson 2-5 3-3 7, Sholberg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-37 14-18 51.
AIR FORCE (9-1)
Burtschi 5-11 2-2 14, Nwaelele 5-9 2-2 12, Frye 1-3 0-0 3, McCraw 4-8 5-5 15, An. Hood 5-12 4-6 14, Anderson 0-1 2-2 2, Maren 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 21-46 15-17 63.
Halftime – Saint Mary’s 25-23. 3-point goals – Saint Mary’s 3-11 (Golden 2-3, O’Leary 1-3, Collins 0-1, White 0-1, Hunter 0-1, Kickert 0-2), Air Force 6-15 (Burtschi 2-4, McCraw 2-5, Frye 1-1, Maren 1-2, Nwaelele 0-1, An. Hood 0-2). Fouled out – Collins, Winston. Rebounds – Saint Mary’s 32 (Golden 7), Air Force 18 (Anderson, Burtschi, An. Hood, McCraw 3). Assists – Saint Mary’s 8 (Golden 3), Air Force 12 (Burtschi, Nwaelele 4). Total fouls – Saint Mary’s 17, Air Force 19. A – 3,153.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
