Decked out in its royal blue uniforms, Air Force came into Saturday's contest against the UNM men's basketball team as the Mountain West Conference's "Blue Bombers."
The Falcons entered The Pit as the third-ranked 3-point-shooting team in the nation, stroking 42.5 percent from deep.
However, much like Air Force's last four games, where the Falcons were a combined 21-of-66 (31.8 percent) from downtown, the B52s were grounded - again. The Lobos ensured Air Force's trip to Albuquerque was a turbulent one and bounced the Academy 78-53.
Without its 3-point shooting, Air Force was helpless on offense. Limiting Air Force's good looks with a claustrophobic defensive effort, the Lobos held the Falcons to 31.8 percent shooting in the first half. Of the few uncontested shots the Falcons had, Air Force made good on its name ? air-balling and forcing up shots. The Falcons made only 6 of their 18 3-point attempts.
"We did a lot of switching," head coach Steve Alford said. "They're not only a 3-point-shooting team, but they drive the ball very hard. That was a concern - not getting in foul trouble. I thought we defended the dribble-drive really well."
In a 73-60 loss to UTEP on Tuesday, the Lobos made landing shots look like quantum physics, as UNM shot 28.8 percent from the field. On Saturday, though, the laws of physics were cooperative with UNM.
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"Everything was just falling today," said Phillip McDonald, who had 15 points and was 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
McDonald, in particular, needed a game like this to give him a confidence boost. In the last five games, he made only 5-of-17 3s. Eleven of the freshman's 15 came during a 15-0 run in the first half that all but put the game away for the Lobos.
While McDonald hit a trio of 3s and a jumper in a matter of 2:55 to help UNM build a 24-6 lead with 11:37 to go in the first half, Air Force couldn't muster a bucket for more than six minutes. By half, it was 41-20 Lobos.
Collectively, UNM shot a higher percentage from 3-point land (56.3 percent) than from everywhere else on the field (54.3).
Go figure.
The Lobos' behind-the-arc accuracy comes after a sickening shooting performance against the Miners on Tuesday.
"Of course, you're going to have bad nights," Jonathan Wills said. "I think we're a great shooting team."
As a result, a team that came in giving up an average of 58.2 points per game - Air Force - allowed a season-high 78.
Tony Danridge shelled out 15 of those, as did Chad Toppert. Daniel Faris contributed 11, and UNM converted 19-of-25 free throws. At the other end, Matt Holland led the Falcons with 14, while Anwar Johnson and Evan Washington had 11 and 10, respectively.
Holland was one of two of the Falcons' most proficient 3-point shooters and went 4-of-6, but UNM clamped down on Andrew Henke - who was shooting 46.4 percent. Henke had four points.
"The coaches did a good job scouting them," McDonald said. "It was a big key and it made the game easier for us."
Men's basketball vs. BYU
Saturday, 2 p.m.
The Pit
