AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Utah coach Jim Boylen knew exactly what it would take to turn back the Air Force Falcons, emphasizing to his team the importance of getting extra shots.
The Utes were good listeners. With 6-foot-8 forward Shaun Green leading the way with five offensive rebounds, the Utes gained a 12-1 edge on the offensive glass, 11-0 in the second half. Those extra shots were monumental in a 67-59 Mountain West Conference victory Saturday afternoon over the Falcons at Clune Arena. The loss dropped the Falcons (12-10, 4-5) out of a tie for fourth place in the conference race.
The Utes overcame a 10-point halftime deficit with 47 points in the second half. It was a key sequence with about four minutes left in the game that turned the tide. With the Falcons trailing 52-48, the Utes missed three layups, but got the offensive rebound on each before guard Luka Drca drilled a crippling 3-point field goal on the fourth shot with 4:18 remaining.
“When you miss shots and go back and get it three times, it changes the outcome of the game,” Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said.
Air Force had tied the game at 48 with 7:49 left on center Keith Maren’s 3-pointer, but the Utes (14-8, 5-4 MWC) outscored the Falcons 19-11 down the stretch. Utes guard Johnnie Bryant was 5-of-9 from 3-point range and finished with 17 points.
“Utah was mentally tougher than we were today,” Reynolds said.
Despite making only one field in the final 7:49, Air Force still had a chance with 20 seconds left, but guard Andrew Heinke rushed a long 3-point try instead of driving for a layup and a possible three-point play, as Reynolds wanted, with the Utes leading 63-59.
“Utah stepped up and made shots when it had to, and we didn’t,” said guard Tim Anderson, who led AFA with 16 points.
UTAH (14-8, 5-4 MWC)
Green 2-4 0-0 6, Nevill 5-6 3-5 13, Borha 2-9 2-2 7, Brown 2-3 2-2 6, Kepkay 2-6 0-1 4, Bryant 5-11 2-2 17, Drca 3-6 4-6 12, Tillie 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 22-48 13-18 67.
AIR FORCE (12-10, 4-5)
Holland 0-1 0-0 0, Johnson 2-5 7-10 11, Maren 3-10 1-2 8, Anderson 2-6 10-12 16, Washington 5-5 0-0 11, Henke 5-9 0-1 11, Hood 0-0 0-2 0, Kenzik 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 18-40 18-27 59.
Halftime — Air Force 30-20. 3-point goals — Utah 10-20 (Bryant 5-9, Green 2-3, Drca 2-3, Borha 1-3, Kepkay 0-2), Air Force 5-17 (Anderson 2-4, Washington 1-1, Henke 1-3, Maren 1-7, Johnson 0-1, Kenzik 0-1). Fouled out — None. Rebounds — Utah 36 (Brown 11), Air Force 18 (Johnson 4). Assists — Utah 13 (Drca 4), Air Force 12 (Anderson 4). Total fouls — Utah 24, Air Force 17. Technical foul — Nevill. A — 4,740.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
