Falcons winless but not hapless in conference

PROVO, Utah • It was supposed to be nothing more than a coronation.

A celebration of a third straight title and a sentimental send-off for a senior class.

But Air Force refused to be BYU's hapless foil.

In a tense, contentious game filled with big plays, hard fouls and a controversial call, the Cougars defeated the Falcons, 54-49, to claim a share of the Mountain West Conference title along with New Mexico and Utah.

Before the Cougars could cut down the nets and celebrate under a rain of confetti, however, they had to hold off a Falcons team that - despite not having won since Dec. 28 - had no intentions of mailing it in.

"Unbelievable effort from top to bottom," said senior Andrew Henke, who had a team-high 14 points. "Every punch they threw at us, we came right back."

BYU opened the second half on a 13-5 run to take a 35-30 lead. But freshman Trevor Noonan (career-high 11 points) hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions, and senior Matt Holland followed with a 3 on the next possession. He then made a steal and tossed a pass to Henke, who threw down a one-handed dunk to give Air Force a 41-38 lead with 7:30 left. And it was game on.

Henke hit a 3 to tie the game at 45 and then a pair of free throws to knot it at 47 with 1:33 left. BYU senior Lee Cummard then made a pair of free throws before the game's critical sequence.

Air Force lost control of the ball, and as players dove on the floor and the announced sellout crowd of 22,700 roared, some of the players on the court stopped, thinking they'd heard a whistle. But BYU's Jackson Emery grabbed the ball and took off. Air Force's Anwar Johnson fouled him hard at the other end, and as the crowd roared its disapproval, Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds stormed up the floor, screaming at the officials about the whistle. Or lack thereof.

"Sounded like a whistle to me," he said.

But the play stood, and Emery made one of two free throws to put BYU up 50-47. Air Force then made its season-high 22nd turnover, leading to a pair of free throws by Cummard that all but sealed the game.

Air Force, which lost for a program-worst 17th time in a row, finished the regular season 9-20 and 0-16 in the MWC - the first time in 29 league campaigns the Falcons failed to win a game.