The Air Force Falcons let a 14-point second half lead slip to two before Max Yon helped the Falcons recover and pull away in the game for good as the Falcons defeated the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks by the score of 77-61 Monday night at Clune Arena. The Falcons improve to 5-3 overall with the victory.
The Mavericks had cut the lead to 54-52 with 6:05 left in the game when Yon jump started the Falcons with some superior play. Yon would hit back to back three-pointers in consecutive possessions as part of his 12 point, three rebound, one assist finish to the game. Yon would lead all scorers for the evening with 21 points. The senior guard, who has been coming off the bench for the last two games, returned to the starting line-up for what would be Head Coach Dave Pilipovich's fourth different starting lineup in as many games. For the Falcons to get on a roll going into conference play at the end of the month, Pilipovich is going to have to settle on a starting lineup to give them a chance to gain an understanding of how they play with each other.
The Falcons would also get good performances from senior forwards Marek Olesinski and Kamryn Williams. Olesinski has been fighting a slow start and Williams has been dinged up with minor injuries. Both players would join Yon in double digits on the night, with Olesinski chipping in 16 points as well as six assist, including a big three-pointer that followed the Yon back to back three's to push the lead back out to double digits late and Williams would end the night with 10 points, six rebounds and four assist. Trevor Lyons would add nine points as the new starter in the back court opposite Yon. Key subs Matt Mooney and Zach Kocur would provide nine and eight points respectively off the bench as the Falcons shortened their rotations for this game, using Kocur and Mooney off the bench along with forward Ryan Manning.
Air Force will continue their current home stand when they play Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for noon and can be seen online on the Mountain West Network.