Air Force cruises to hoops victory

Evan Washington scored 12 points, and sophomore Shawn Hempsey had three steals as the Air Force men's basketball team took a 50-33 lead into half against Dickinson State Evan Washington sailed through the air and grabbed a rebound of Tom Fow’s shot. Before Washington could land, he put the ball back up, was fouled and crashed to the floor.

Washington completed the three-point play and tied a career high with 18 points, despite playing just 21 minutes, as Air Force defeated Dickinson State 95-77 Friday night at Clune Arena.

“He’s playing with confidence and sharing the ball well,” Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said about Washington. “He got a big-time rebound. I thought he was hurt on that play.”

The 95 points were the most for the Falcons (2-0) since Feb. 16, 1999, putting them into tonight’s championship game of the Reggie Minton Air Force Classic against Northern Colorado. The Bears defeated Texas Southern 66-62 earlier in the night.

Washington also set a career high with six assists. Cherry Creek alum Grant Parker, a senior, was perfect from the floor, going 6-for-6 and added 15 points for the Falcons, and junior Tom Fow scored a career high 14.

The Blue Hawks (1-6) tried to rally midway through the second period, going on a 12-3 run to cut the Falcons’ lead to 14 at 72-58 with just over 9 minutes remaining. But a three-point play by Michael Lyon built the lead back up to 20 with 7:58 to play, and the Blue Hawks never seriously threatened again.

The Falcons, who never trailed, jumped out to a 9-3 lead and were tied once at 9-9, but another three-point play by Washington put the Falcons ahead for good.

The Falcons led 50-33 behind Washington’s 12 first-half points.

Parker and the Falcons used a distinct height advantage, outscoring the Blue Hawks 42-12 in the paint. The Falcons also blocked four shots.

Defensively, Air Force held Dickinson State to 39 percent from the floor.

The Falcons did struggle from the free-throw line, making 25-of-37 for 67.6 percent.

Dickinson State’s Nate Lebsock finished with a game-high 26 points — 17 coming in the first half — and Ryan Ernst added 19, hitting six 3-pointers. The Blue Hawks will play Texas Southern in the consolation game at 5:30 p.m. today.Friday night at Clune Arena.