Air Force shakes off rusty start to beat Army in hoops

Air Force’s coaches were hoping to see someone step forward after losing three seniors from last season. They didn’t figure just about everyone would look like a new man in the Falcons’ season opener Friday.

Taylor Stewart set career highs with 16 points and seven assists, Mike Fitzgerald tied a career high with 13 points despite sitting most of the game in foul trouble, Todd Fletcher set a career high with seven assists and Michael Lyons scored 24 points with a career-high nine rebounds as Air Force beat Army 87-71 in the inaugural All-Military Classic, which was the season opener for both teams. The championship game will be at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night at Clune Arena vs. VMI, a 103-100 winner over Citadel in a game that ended Saturday morning.

The across-the-board improvement from Air Force’s players gives the Falcons a lot to be pleased about after one game, even though it wasn’t perfect.

“I’m happy to get the win, but it could have been better,” Lyons said.

The Falcons, aside from red-hot Fitzgerald, were rusty for the first half.

Fitzgerald hit his first five shots, including all three of his 3-point attempts, to score 13 of Air Force’s first 19 points.

Air Force hit just six of its 18 first-half shots not counting Fitzgerald’s surprising spurt to start the game. The Falcons hit just 7 of 14 free throws in the first half, turned the ball over 14 times and trailed 35-32 at intermission.

The Falcons were much better to start the second half. Fletcher hit a couple of jumpers, including one from deep in the corner. Stewart delivered a pretty pass to Taylor Broekhuis for a dunk. Lyons showed off his athletic ability, beating Army down court for one layup, then hitting a twisting reverse for another. Those were Air Force’s first five shots of the half, and the Falcons eventually pulled away.

The Falcons finished in style. With about a minute left, Fletcher got a steal and started a break with a behind-the-back pass. Freshman Chris Carter, who had seven steals in his impressive debut, dumped it off to Lyons, who threw down a tomahawk dunk.

“We played like we were nervous,” coach Jeff Reynolds said. “I thought we did some things down the stretch when we had to.”