Air Force notes: Broekhuis breaking out

Taylor Broekhuis has become a very efficient offensive player for Air Force, taking a big leap from his freshman year.

Broekhuis shot 32.4 percent from the field last season, but is a lot more confident now. Broekhuis hit all five of his 2-point field-goal attempts against Cal State Northridge on Thursday, and has now hit 19-of-24 2-point attempts for the season. Broekhuis missed all three of his 3-point attempts — and has made just 1-of-10 this season from behind the arc, but he is making strides from close range.

“Definitely, a lot more confidence in the system,” Broekhuis said. “The coaches are giving me a lot of confidence in the low block, they’re giving me the green light.”

Lyons foul trouble

One way to cut back on Michael Lyons’ heavy workload is to have him get in foul trouble. Lyons, who was averaging 33.8 minutes per game through Air Force’s first four games, was in foul trouble most of the night against Northridge and played just 23 minutes.

“He was never in the flow of the game, because we didn’t want to play him too soon,” coach Jeff Reynolds said.

Odds and ends

Guard Todd Fletcher scored a career-best 15 points for the Falcons. … Michael Lizarraga started at center for Cal State Northridge. He is the only deaf player playing Division I basketball. He had three points and six rebounds against the Falcons.