Falcons getting healthier with Parker's return

SALT LAKE CITY – One of the few positives Air Force could take from Saturday’s 71-54 loss to Utah was the return of senior forward/center Grant Parker.

Parker, who had missed 10 games with a pelvic injury, played just 15 minutes in a reserve role and contributed only four points and one rebound.

But simply the presence of the player who averaged 17.1 points and 7.1 rebounds in the Falcons’ first seven games provided a morale boost.

“He’s our leading scorer, so it was a great feeling having him back out there,” junior guard Evan Washington said. “Right now we’ve just got to get him back into playing shape.”

While some players, like Parker, are not 100 percent, Air Force now is without only two key players – sophomore center Sammy Schafer and sophomore guard/forward Taylor Stewart. That's an improvement for a team that has been besieged by injuries

Parker had not participated in any five-on-five drills in practice before playing Saturday. He said playing against the Utes was “a game-time decision.”

“We didn’t want to take a terrible risk and potentially hurt myself again, but I felt like with how I did in practice and how I was feeling, I felt like I could go,” Parker said.

“Obviously I looked rusty, I couldn’t make any shots. But I felt pretty good.”

On the road
On Sunday, instead of heading back to Air Force, the Falcons flew from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, where they will face UNLV on Tuesday.

The time away from the academy should help players catch up on rest.

“It’s nice, especially in the beginning of the semester,” Parker said. “When you get to the end of the semester and you’ve already missed a lot of class, it’s harder to miss class. But it’s nice to get out here and focus just on basketball.”