New Mexico vs. Air Force: Three things to look for
New Mexico at Air Force, 8 p.m. The mtn., 740 AM
1. WILL AIR FORCE BE ABLE TO SCORE?
The Falcons have averaged a meager 40.7 points in their past three games. In those games Air Force made just 43-of-124 shots from the floor (34.7 percent), including 13-of-57 from 3-point range (22.8 percent), and 23-of-43 free throws (53.5 percent). "We haven't shot the ball well, and I think that's the root of all evil right now with our team - just an inability to shoot the basketball," Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said.
2. NEW MEXICO'S TONY DANRIDGE
The versatile 6-foot-5 senior guard leads the Lobos in scoring (13.6 points per game) and steals (30) and ranks third on the team in rebounding (4.3 per game) and assists (63). In Saturday's 73-69 overtime victory over UNLV, Danridge scored 24 of his career-high 26 points after halftime, including the eventual game-winning bucket with 5.4 seconds left in the extra session. He had 15 points in the Lobos' Jan. 10 victory over the Falcons.
3. CAN THE FALCONS KEEP IT CLOSE?
Air Force has lost its past three games by a combined 73 points and has not kept a game within a single-digit margin since its 57-54 loss to TCU on Jan. 17. A fast start will be key. It was apparent on the faces of the Air Force players that the Falcons were sunk before halftime of Saturday's game against San Diego State.
Quote to Note
"As badly as it looks at this point in time, I think what you're looking at is we're still developing a lot of winning habits. And when you've got four or five freshmen that are playing the majority of your minutes, that's a good thing." - Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds
Note to Quote
New Mexico's three losses in Mountain West Conference play have come at UNLV (by two), at San Diego State (by five) and at Utah (by one).
