Carter Murphy (4) of the Air Force Falcons scores as Sean Bairstow (2) of the Utah State Aggies defends during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostRylan Jones (15) of the Utah State Aggies handles the ball as Jake Heidbreder (3) of the Air Force Falcons defends during the second half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostMax Shulga (11) of the Utah State Aggies defends an inbound pass from Jake Heidbreder (3) of the Air Force Falcons during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostRylan Jones (15) of the Utah State Aggies celebrates hitting a three pointer against the Air Force Falcons during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostJake Heidbreder (3) of the Air Force Falcons fouls Max Shulga (11) of the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostJeffrey Mills (24) of the Air Force Falcons passes as Brock Miller (22) of the Utah State Aggies defends during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostLucas Moerman (35) of the Air Force Falcons saves a loose ball on the baseline as Rylan Jones (15) and Justin Bean (34) of the Utah State Aggies defend during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostJoseph Octave (0) of the Air Force Falcons drives on Justin Bean (34) of the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostJoseph Octave (0) of the Air Force Falcons shoots over Brock Miller (22) of the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostJoseph Octave (0) of the Air Force Falcons walks to the bench for a timeout against the Utah State Aggies during the second half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostA.J. Walker (10) of the Air Force Falcons handles in traffic as Rylan Jones (15) and Brandon Horvath (4) of the Utah State Aggies defend during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostBrock Miller (22) of the Utah State Aggies high fives teammate Brandon Horvath (4) during the second half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup against the Air Force Falcons at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostJeffrey Mills (24) of the Air Force Falcons saves a loose ball was Sean Bairstow (2) of the Utah State Aggies defends during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostSteven Ashworth (3) of the Utah State Aggies passes as Carter Murphy (4) of the Air Force Falcons defends during the second half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostHead coach Joe Scott of the Air Force Falcons watches the action against the Utah State Aggies during the second half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostEthan Taylor (5) of the Air Force Falcons calls out a play against the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostJoseph Octave (0) of the Air Force Falcons shoots over Sean Bairstow (2) of the Utah State Aggies during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostCarter Murphy (4) of the Air Force Falcons scores as Sean Bairstow (2) of the Utah State Aggies defends during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostBrandon Horvath (4) of the Utah State Aggies celebrates making a basket against the Air Force Falcons during the second half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver PostJoseph Octave (0) of the Air Force Falcons stands on the court during the second half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup against the Utah State Aggies at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
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Carter Murphy (4) of the Air Force Falcons scores as Sean Bairstow (2) of the Utah State Aggies defends during the first half of their Mountain West Championships first round matchup at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
ExpandBy AAron Ontiveroz | aontiveroz@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED:
Getting your player ready...
The Utah State Aggies knocked off the Air Force Falcons 83-56 in round one of the Mountain West men’s basketball Championships at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.






















