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New Mexico Slides Past Air Force, 62-59 The Lobos got 20 points from Mark Walters in the win.
Jan. 21, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Mark Walters scored 20 points and made up for a late turnover by taking a charge as New Mexico extended its homecourt winning streak to 21 games with a 62-59 win over Air Force Saturday night. New Mexico (12-6, 3-2 MWC) has lost to the Falcons (16-3, 4-2 MWC) only once in the 40-year history of The Pit but this time needed the clutch scoring of Walters, some tenacious defense down the stretch and solid free throw shooting - 13-of-15 in the second half. New Mexico is 24-1 against the Falcons since The Pit opened in 1966. Still, the Falcons, off to their best start in school history, took the Lobos to the final buzzer. Jacob Burtschi, who scored a career-high 25 points, came up short on his off-balance 3-pointer just before the buzzer. Burtschi hit his fifth 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to get the Falcons within 60-59. On the ensuing New Mexico possession, Walters threw the ball right into the hands of Air Force guard Antoine Hood. Hood drove into the lane and tried to force his way past Walters, who stood his ground and drew a charging call. New Mexico freshman Ryan Kersten was fouled with 8 seconds left and hit both free throws, setting up Burtschi's last-second airball. New Mexico led 60-56 with 30.6 seconds after Kris Collins, a career 59 percent free throw shooter, hit two free throws with 30.6 seconds remaining. Collins finished 5-for-5 from the line and was part of a five-point turnaround late in the second half that hurt the Falcons' chances. Trailing 49-47, Air Force came up with a steal and had a 3-on-1 break. Dan Nwaelele found Hood open underneath, but Hood missed the open layup. New Mexico got the rebound and Collins hit a layup and was fouled. His three-point play put the Lobos up 52-47.
Air Force managed two ties in the final 2:17, the first at 54-54 on a 3-pointer by Matt McCraw and at 56 when McCraw hit two free throws after being fouled by Lobo Tony Danridge on a 3-point shot with 1:14 remaining. Hood finished with 13 points. Danridge scored 12 points and Kersten 11 for New Mexico which hit a season-high 58.3 percent of its shots against the best defensive scoring team in the country. Walters made four 3-pointers. |
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