March 9, 2013
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) –
Todd Fletcher hit a 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining to give Air Force an 89-88 victory over No. 12 New Mexico on Saturday.
Tony Snell’s 3-point attempt from the right wing clanged off the iron as time expired, and Falcons fans stormed the court to celebrate the program’s first win over a top 15 team. Fletcher’s clutch shot came seconds after New Mexico’s Kendall Williams missed the back end of a 1-and-1.
The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Lobos (26-5, 13-3 Mountain West) and marked the second win over a Top 25 opponent for Air Force (17-12, 8-8) this season. The Falcons finished 13-2 at Clune Arena.
The game was a back-and-forth sprint that featured 10 ties and seven lead changes, with the teams combining for a conference-record 30 3-pointers. Air Force was 15 of 31 from 3-point range, with New Mexico going 15 for 33.
The Lobos led 87-83 with 19 seconds remaining after a pair of free throws by Williams. Michael Lyons, the conference’s leading scorer, hit a long, contested 3-pointer with 12.1 seconds left to cut the deficit to one.
Fletcher finished with a career-high 21 points and Lyons led the way for Air Force with 30. Marek Olesinski was 5 of 5 from the field off the bench for a career-high 15 points – all in the first half.
The defeat ended New Mexico’s 13-game winning streak over the Falcons. Williams had 21 points and 10 assists to lead the Lobos. Snell hit seven 3-pointers for 21 points and Alex Kirk added 16 points and 11 rebounds.
New Mexico had 29 assists on 34 baskets against only eight turnovers. Air Force had 23 assists and just six turnovers. The Lobos narrowly outshot Air Force 58.6 percent to 56.4 percent, but the Falcons finished with a 29-9 advantage in bench points.
The score was tied 47-all at halftime.