LARAMIE — Air Force center Eric Kenzik doesn’t get a lot of playing time, but Wednesday night at Wyoming’s Arena-Auditorium, he made every second count.
Kenzik played the role of hero as if it were old hat, making a left-handed layup with 1.4 seconds left in overtime to lift the Falcons to a dramatic 64-62 victory over a dogged Wyoming team that stormed back in the second half.
Andrew Henke’s pass through Wyoming’s defense set up the final basket. Henke recognized the Cowboys were in a their zone, drove to the middle and kicked the ball off to Kenzik when the zone collapsed to the middle.
“It was a layup, and all the credit goes to Andrew (Henke),” Kenzik said. “He made a great basketball play. He made an easy shot for me. He drove the middle and we kind of locked eyes as my man left to help. It was a great pass.”
Air Force (10-6, 2-1 Mountain West Conference) earned its first road victory of the season. The Falcons have won back-to-back games in Laramie for the first time since the 1970-71 and 1972-73 seasons.
After making the Falcons stumble in front of an aggressive pressure defense in the second half to rally from a 36-28 halftime deficit, the Cowboys (6-9, 0-3) came out fast in overtime. With guards Brad Jones and Brandon Ewing combining for six points, the Cowboys took a 62-56 lead in the first 1:35. But the Falcons regrouped behind the calm play of senior Tim Anderson, scoring the final eight points.
It was Anderson’s steal and drive for a basket at the other end that tied the score at 62 with 1:21 left in overtime.
“When we get points off our defense, it’s a big thing,” Anderson said. “Wyoming picked it up in the second half, and we had to respond. We had to push through it. It’s a big step for our team to show we can win on the road.”
Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said during a timeout in overtime his team would win.
“Yes, I said it to give our team confidence,” Reynolds said. “I just felt like we would get shots, and I stressed we had to defend. I said we had to share the ball.”
Wyoming coach Heath Schroyer credited the Falcons for recognizing the zone on the winning play.
“We wanted to make them put the ball on the floor,” Schroyer said. “They did a good job of penetrating the zone and getting the ball to the open man.”
Air Force led for most of the game behind some sizzling 3-point shooting. The Falcons hit 13-of-27 shots from long range.
Wyoming had 17 turnovers, but a 35-25 rebounding advantage kept them in the game.
AIR FORCE (10-6, 2-1)
Holland 4-11 0-0 11, Maren 3-7 0-2 9, Anderson 7-14 1-1 19, Washington 3-5 1-2 8, Johnson 1-3 4-7 6, Henke 2-5 1-2 7, Hood 0-0 0-0 0, Kenzik 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 22-50 7-14 64.
WYOMING (6-9, 0-3)
Dermody 3-11 0-0 8, Taylor 0-1 1-6 1, Nelson 2-2 0-0 4, Jones 4-9 8-11 16, Ewing 6-12 4-5 21, Linskens 3-3 0-0 6, Johnson 1-2 0-0 2, Platt 1-2 0-0 2, Bunker 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 21-43 13-22 62.
Halftime — Air Force 36-28. End of regulation — Tied 56. 3-point goals — Air Force 13-27 (Anderson 4-6, Maren 3-7, Holland 3-7, Henke 2-4, Washington 1-3), Wyoming 7-18 (Ewing 5-9, Dermody 2-5, Platt 0-1, Taylor 0-1, Jones 0-2). Fouled out — Maren. Rebounds — Air Force 25 (Henke 5), Wyoming 35 (Dermody 9). Assists — Air Force 13 (Anderson 3), Wyoming 11 (Jones 6). Total fouls — Air Force 19, Wyoming 19. A — 5,217.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
