In a spirited game between the UNLV Runnin' Rebels and the Air Force Falcons, the Falcons hit enough free throws at the end of the game to overcome Christian Wood and his monster 31 point, nine rebound, five blocked shots and three assist effort to capture a 76-75 victory. The victory raises the Air Force record to 12-13 overall and 5-9 in conference while UNLV drops to 14-11 overall and 5-7 in conference.
UNLV was leading 26-25 at the half and the second half was going to prove to be just as tight with the teams trading jab after jab like they were participating in a heavyweight title fight. Matt Mooney and Trevor Lyons would help the Falcons jump out to a 33-28 lead early in the second half with back-to-back three-pointers. UNLV would quickly respond with a 6-2 run highlighted by huge dunks by Goodluck Okonoboh and Wood. Air Force would hold on to a slight 35-34 lead heading into the first media timeout of the second half.
By the time the second media timeout of the half would occur, both teams and all the fans in Clune Arena would need the rest. Air Force came out of that first media timeout with a 7-0 run behind a three by Mooney and four points from Marek Olesinski, who would finish the game with 19 points. UNLV would turn to sharp shooting Patrick McCaw as the Rebel guard would go crazy hitting three-pointers in four possessions during the action filled four minute stretch to help chop the Air Force lead to 47-46 at the second media timeout.
Zach Kocur would come out of that second media timeout and put on a shooting display of his own. Kocur would hit five of his six three-pointers on the game after the second media time-out. Kocur's last three-pointer of the game would come with 43 seconds left in the game and give Air Force a 71-66 lead. McCaw would miss a three with 31 seconds remaining in the game and Air Force would hit five of their next six free throws to overcome seven points from Wood in the final 25 seconds of the game to capture the extremely exciting victory.
Kocur would finish the game with 18 points, one behind Olesinski and his 19. Mooney would have 11 for the Falcons and Lyons 10 in the contest.
Behind Wood and his 31 points would be McCaw with 20, including his six three-pointers made on the afternoon. Okonoboh would finish with 10 points and Jelan Kendrick would end the day with eight assist.
Air Force will head to Fort Collins for their next contest on Saturday versus Colorado State. UNLV will return home as they will host the conferences' hottest team in Boise State.