Air Force Falcons Clipped by San Diego State Aztecs at Viejas Arena
The Air Force Falcons, with a record of 0-0, faced off against the San Diego State Aztecs, also at 0-0, in a game that ended with a score of 73-63. The contest was held at the Viejas Arena in San Diego.
From the opening quarter, both teams set an aggressive pace with each putting up 16 points. The Falcons showed promise early on as they outscored the Aztecs in the second quarter by three points. However, despite leading at halftime and adding another 18 points to their tally in the third quarter, it was not enough to secure victory.
The Air Force team's effort was evident across various aspects of their game. They demonstrated accuracy from the free-throw line with an impressive 89 percent completion rate and were able to capitalize on turnovers by scoring 16 points off them. Additionally, they fought hard for rebounds securing a total of 41 compared to their opponents' 43.
A notable performance came from behind the arc where seven three-pointers were made out of twenty-four attempts resulting in a three-point percentage of around 29 percent for the Falcons. Their tenacity also shone through on defense where they managed six steals and blocked three shots.
However, despite these efforts and maintaining an assists turnover ratio near .76, it wasn't enough against an Aztecs team that excelled particularly in the final quarter scoring an overwhelming 26 points which ultimately decided the game's outcome.
The Aztecs' defense proved formidable as well; they racked up four blocks and fourteen steals throughout the match. Their fast break plays were effective too contributing thirteen fast break points to their overall score while also making nineteen free throws out of twenty-seven attempts (around seventy percent).
Looking ahead for Air Force fans eager to support their team: The next challenge will be against San Jose State Spartans at Clune Arena located in Colorado Springs on February 24th at noon local time (2 PM Mountain Time). Fans can catch this matchup live as it happens from within Clune Arena or tune into broadcasts available through sports networks covering college basketball games.