AFA basketball notes: Parker tries to take blame for loss

Air Force senior forward/center Grant Parker attempted to take the blame for Wednesday’s 54-43 loss to Utah, saying he was responsible for the Utes’ first seven points of the second half.

“Really it came down to that,” Parker said. “They scored seven straight points on me, and that completely just changed the game. … I don’t want to sound all heroic and say it’s all my fault all the time. But tonight it was, I think.”

It was a nice sentiment from the Falcons’ senior leader. But the loss clearly was not all on him. Parker, after all, scored a team-high 11 points. And even after he gave up the Utes’ first seven points, the Falcons cut Utah’s lead to one later in the second half.  A bigger culprit was the Falcons’ outside shooting. Air Force made just 2-of-17 3-point attempts, including 0-for-6 after halftime.

Fow sits, sick
Junior Tom Fow, the team’s top 3-point shooter, perhaps could have helped boost the 3-point percentage. He did not play because of illness, coach Jeff Reynolds said.

Etc.
Junior guard Evan Washington scored a season-low one point. … Air Force went 5-of-12 from the free-throw line.