Short-handed Air Force pushes past Texas-Pan American

Air Force’s 2010 got off to a good start, as the Falcons used strong defense and a career night from Mike McLain to defeat Texas-Pan American 72-65 on Saturday at Clune Arena.

McLain dominated the paint and more than doubled his career high in points, scoring 25 to lead the wounded Falcons.

“I had some open lanes and took the opportunities the defense gave me,” McLain said. “They had some tough guys in the post that were hard to muscle around.”

The Falcons outscored the Broncs 34-12 in the paint and scored 21 points off turnovers.

Air Force played without four players, but with some help from Derek Brooks, who scored a career-high 16 points, the Falcons did enough to win.

“Injuries are part of the game, and we just have to step up and play,” Brooks said. “I have been ready to go out there and play, and the coaches just told me to bring some energy.”

The game went back and forth, with both teams making runs, but Air Force (8-5) was able to outscore the Broncs 14-8 in the last 3:39 after Texas-Pan Am (1-14) cut the lead to 58-57.

“I was concerned about our sense our urgency to start the game off,” Falcons coach Jeff Reynolds said. “But we knew what we needed to do in the last few minutes on defense and we contested their shots.”

Nick Weiermiller led the hot-shooting Broncs with 25 points, including going 6-for-7 from 3-point range. Texas-Pan Am shot 13-for-26 from outside as a team, which allowed them to stay close.

The Air Force defense held the Broncs without a field goal for the first 9:36 of the second half, allowing the Falcons to go on a 15-1 run in that span and gain a lead they kept the rest of the night.

“These last four games have been solid for us as we enter conference play,” Reynolds said. “We are just trying to find the right combinations with the injuries we have and trying to find practice time for the younger guys.”

Air Force opens conference play at TCU on Wednesday, and then travels to Colorado State on Saturday.

Notes

Falcons leading scorer Grant Parker (groin) missed his sixth straight game. Center Sammy Schafer (concussion), forward Taylor Stewart (broken wrist), and guard Avery Merriex (broken nose and concussion) also sat out. ... Tom Fow went 2-for-4 from 3-point range and is shooting 53.5 percent beyond the arc over the last five games.