Air Force’s struggles continue as Falcons fall 68-66 to Fresno State

By Carson Field February 10, 2024 | updated 2 years ago

Air Force’s players and coaches will look back at Saturday’s game against Fresno State as a missed opportunity.

The Falcons entered in dire need of a win, losing 13 of their last 14 games. The skid continued against the Bulldogs — one of the Mountain West’s bottom teams — as Air Force lost 68-66.

“I think every game’s a missed opportunity, but you could say especially these types of games,” junior guard Jeffrey Mills said. “We feel like we can win every game, so it’s upsetting not being able to come up with the wins.”

Neither team gained much separation throughout the game. It was an ugly game for both teams in the first half, as they combined for 19 turnovers and played to a 38-38 tie at the break.

Fresno State took an 11-point lead midway through the second half, but never pulled away. Another close game for Air Force became another close game that the Falcons couldn’t win.

With just over a minute remaining, Air Force’s Rytis Petraitis hit a game-tying 3-pointer. But the Bulldogs responded with back-to-back buckets and held a four-point lead with 24.6 seconds left.

Petraitis then drew a foul on the Falcons’ ensuing possession and made both free throws.

With Fresno State leading by two, the game got crazy.

A Bulldog player appeared to shove Petraitis on their inbounds play, but the officials didn’t call a foul. Fresno State then successfully inbounded the ball to Leo Colimerio, who drew a foul from Petraitis.

“He pushed me with two hands,” Petraitis said. “At the end of the game, if he pushes off, he pushes off. But again, it’s up to the ref to call that. If he doesn’t call it, we have to move on.”

Colimerio, though, missed his 1-and-1 opportunity, giving Air Force a chance with 4.6 seconds left. Petraitis dribbled, heaved the ball from several feet beyond the 3-point line and missed, just off the iron of the rim.

“Today would’ve been nice if we threw one in at the buzzer,” Air Force coach Joe Scott said.

On a day where Fresno State committed 19 turnovers, one man kept the Bulldogs alive. Xavier DuSell went 7-of-8 on 3-pointers and led the Bulldogs with 29 points.

Recently, the Falcons have struggled more defending big men. But they did well against Fresno State’s 6-foot-11 center Enoch Boakye, who scored just five points.

That didn’t matter, though, as DuSell was hot from deep.

“You have to fight the big guy, stop the 3-point shooter and get the ball,” Scott said. “That’s the three-pronged thing.”

Air Force’s struggles in close games aren’t a secret. The Falcons are 3-8 in games decided by single digits.

In addition to DuSell’s flashy performance, the Falcons suffered some self-inflicted wounds. They shot 50% from the free-throw line and made just 28.1% (9-of-32) of their 3-pointer attempts.

“It comes down to us making shots when we’re wide open,” Scott said.

Mills led the Falcons with 20 points. Beau Becker, Petraitis and Byron Brown also finished in double figures with 17, 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Air Force (8-15, 1-10 Mountain West) is tied for last in the Mountain West. The Falcons haven’t won a game at Clune Arena since Nov. 22.

Fresno State (11-13, 4-7) entered the game ninth in the league, in front of only San Jose State and Air Force.

Playing at their home court and hosting one of the league’s bottom teams, Air Force needed to win. But it didn’t.

“In any league you’re in, everybody knows that you have to win home games,” Scott said. “That has to change. We just have to keep fighting and put ourselves in that position to win the game.”

Air Force’s Jeffrey Mills runs after a loose ball Saturday against Fresno State.

CarsonFieldcarson.field@gazette.com
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Air Force’s Jeffrey Mills attempts an underhanded layup Saturday against Fresno State at the Air Force Academy.