Air Force Academy – There was a message delivered loud and clear Saturday afternoon at Clune Arena.
The Falcons (15-1, 2-0 Mountain West Conference) showed there is nothing gimmicky about the school’s best start in 50 years with a gutty, hard-fought 56-50 victory over the Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels (14-3, 1-1).
For anyone who thought the Falcons could only win as long as their long-range accuracy held out, the message according to coach Jeff Bzdelik was clear – this is a complete team.
The Falcons proved it against an opponent with solid credentials, extending their winning streak to 11, winning their 24th straight home game and matching Clemson for the most victories this season.
The Rebels came in determined not to succumb to Air Force’s 3-point shooting. They succeeded as the Falcons hit only 3-of-12 beyond the arc.
“We won. We found a way,” Bzdelik said. “They took away our 3s early in the game, but we showed that we could drive. We shoot a lot of 3s, and we make a lot of 3s. But we’re not a one-dimensional team.”
Bzdelik could not talk enough about the quality of the game and especially the defense that was played. While the Falcons struggled from 3-point range, UNLV was worse making just 1-of-18 – the one made was by Kevin Kruger with 1:55 left that kept the Rebels’ NCAA record for consecutive games with a 3-point field goal going at 648 games.
“We had two teams that were totally prepared,” Bzdelik said. “Two teams that really get up and into each other defensively. They practiced three hours last night. From the moment our game with CSU ended (Wednesday), I had a scouting report in my hand. My point is, there’s a reason both of these teams have won a lot of games. These were two very good teams battling it out. The game could have gone either way.”
Said UNLV coach Lon Kruger: “We didn’t do enough things well to beat a good club like Air Force. They do a good job at getting to the line. Every team that plays them is concerned about their 3-point shooting. You try to limit them the best you can. But we didn’t guard the dribble very well.”
Air Force forward Jacob Burtschi noted it was a battle underneath with UNLV’s frontcourt of Wendell White, Joel Anthony and Gaston Essengue.
“I understand about the 7-footers at CSU, but I don’t think they have the power these guys have,” Burtschi said. “Their guards played the 3-point shot well. They’re physical, strong and quick. They were all over you. They were an in-your-face team.”
But four defensive rebounds by Burtschi and a steal by Tim Anderson in the final six minutes helped turn the tide. Overall, the Rebels held a 39-20 rebounding advantage.
The Falcons were playing at home for the first time in more than three weeks. Their path could have been easier except for some faulty free-throw shooting down the stretch, hitting only 6-of-12.
Air Force’s defense and poise proved to be the difference. The Rebels scored only 11 points over the last eight minutes and just seven points over the final 6:53 after Kruger hit a free throw to tie the score at 43.
And it was a 3-pointer by Dan Nwaelele that proved to be the winning points, putting the Falcons ahead 52-45 with 3:05 left.
UNLV (14-3)
Essengue 4-6 2-3 10, Adams 1-7 0-0 2, Kruger 1-9 1-2 4, Umeh 0-1 0-0 0, White 9-17 2-2 20, M.Lawrence 0-1 0-0 0, Anthony 3-3 4-4 10, Terry 0-4 0-0 0, Darger 2-8 0-0 4. Totals 20-56 9-11 50.
AIR FORCE (15-1)
Burtschi 2-5 5-7 9, Nwaelele 5-10 2-2 13, Welch 5-11 3-7 13, McCraw 4-6 3-4 13, Anderson 2-4 2-3 6, Henke 0-0 0-0 0, Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Frye 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 19-39 15-23 56.
Halftime – Air Force 27-22. 3-point goals – UNLV 1-18 (Kruger 1-9, Umeh 0-1, Adams 0-1, White 0-1, Darger 0-2, Terry 0-4), Air Force 3-12 (McCraw 2-3, Nwaelele 1-3, Burtschi 0-1, Frye 0-2, Welch 0-3). Fouled out – None. Rebounds – UNLV 39 (White 12), Air Force 20 (Burtschi 7). Assists – UNLV 7 (Terry 4), Air Force 8 (Anderson 3). Total fouls – UNLV 20, Air Force 13. A – 5,908.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303- 954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
