LAS VEGAS — The Air Force Falcons couldn’t pull off back-to-back upsets in the women’s Mountain West Conference Tournament, losing Wed- nesday to Utah 70-55.
Less than 24 hours after knocking out fourth-seeded Colorado State, the Falcons were tied with the fifth- seeded Utes 29-29 at halftime.
Andrea Williams’ first season as Air Force’s coach ended with a 9-22 record. Megan Muniz, a sophomore guard from Rio Rancho, N.M., led the Falcons with 13 points and three steals Wednesday. Utah (16-16) advanced to the semifinals Friday vs. top-seeded Brigham Young (23-7).
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
New Mexico 67, Wyoming 61
The Cowgirls (22-8) pulled within 59-56 but couldn’t get any closer.
Men
TCU 70, Wyoming 61
The Horned Frogs snapped their 13-game losing streak with the help of 18 points from Greg Hill and 16 points from Hank Thorns in the MWC play-in game.
The Horned Frogs (11-21) jumped to an 11-point first-half lead, but it was trimmed to 27-24 by the break. The Cowboys (10-21) took their first — and only — lead at 42-41 on Joe Hudson’s breakaway basket after Daylen Harrison stripped the ball from Thorns. TCU responded with a 9-0 run sparked by Hill’s 3-pointer.
Hill, who came in averaging 6.8 points, sank another 3 from the right elbow that made it 55-46, after which he glanced at his bench and shrugged like Michael Jordan famously did.
“It was all focus and mentality,” said Hill, who was coming off a career-best 23-point game against Air Force. “Coach kept telling me all week to step into the shot at practice, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”
The Associated Press
Mountain West men
At Las Vegas
Wednesday’s result
No. 9 TCU 70, No. 8 Wyoming 61
Today’s games
No. 1 BYU vs. No. 9 TCU, 1 p.m., TV: The Mtn.
No. 4 Colorado State vs. No. 5 New Mexico, 3:30 p.m., TV: The Mtn., CBS College Sports
No. 2 San Diego State vs. No. 7 Utah, 7 p.m., TV: The Mtn.
No. 3 UNLV vs. No. 6 Air Force, 9:30 p.m., TV: The Mtn., CBS College Sports
Mountain West women
At Las Vegas
All games on The Mtn.
Wednesday’s results
No. 5 Utah 70, No. 9 Air Force 55
No. 3 Wyoming vs. No. 7 New Mexico, (n)
Friday’s games
No. 1 BYU vs. No. 5 Utah, 1 p.m.
No. 2 TCU vs. Wyoming- New Mexico winner, 3:30 p.m.
