 AIR FORCE 42, EASTERN MICHIGAN 37
Both squads played tight zone defenses and patient offense, and the Falcons of Air Force proved to be more adept, recording a 42-37 victory over EMU.
Air Force built a late eight-point lead, 40-32, with 3:27 left in the game. The Eagles made a furious comeback, cutting the deficit to three, 40-37, with 38.1 seconds left, but a series of EMU field-goal attempts fell short.
Head coach Rob Murphy's Eagles, now 5-9, on the year, were led by Antonio Green and Jamell Harris with nine points each. Harris added nine rebounds and Green had eight boards.
Air Force, now 7-4 on the year, was paced by Todd Fletcher with 18 points.
EMU shot just 37.5 from the field, making 15-of-40 shots, while Air Force was only at 31.9, hitting 13-of-41. Eastern won the battle of the boards, 30-27.
The Eagles turned in a solid offensive effort in the first half and opened up with a quick 10-5 lead through the first seven minutes, with Green scoring five of those points.
Eastern built its lead to seven, 20-13, at the 3:29 mark on a long bank shot by Green, but the Falcons scored the final five points of the first half to cut EMU's halftime lead to two, 20-18.
EMU shot a hot 50 percent in the first 20 minutes, making 9-of-18 field-goal attempts while holding Air Force to just 35 percent on 7-of-20 attempts. The Eagles held a slim 12-10 edge in rebounding.
Air Force opened the second half on a three from the top of the circle, giving the Falcons a quick one-point lead at 21-20, and methodically buily their lead to four, 26-22, taking advantage of some sloppy ball handling by the Eagles.
The Falcons continued to take charge on offense, combining steals with poor EMU shooting to go on top by 10, 35-25, with 7:31 left.
The Eagles went to the full-court pressure over the game's final seven minutes and managed to cut their deficit to four, 40-36, with 1:29 left on a jumper by senior guard Darrell Lampley.
Lampley added the second of two free throws with 38.1 seconds to cut the Air Force lead to three, 40-37, with just 38.1 left, but the Eagles could get no closer.
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