Box Score UNO-AFA Box Score
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A sharp-shooting Air Force squad defeated New Orleans 90-48 at Clune Arena on Wednesday night.
AFA (11-6) improved to 8-1 at home this season after shooting 64.3 percent from the field as a team. Four members of the Falcons roster scored in double-figures led by Mike Fitzgerald with 16 points. Todd Fletcher and Michael Lyons had 14 apiece.
In the opening half, AFA made 16 of 28 attempts from the field for a 57.1 percent clip. Lyons accounted for 14 of the Falcons' points on 7 of 10 shooting as the hosts entered the half with a 43-30 lead.
The only advantage for UNO (5-13) came in the game's first four minutes as the Privateers held AFA without a field goal for the first 4:02. The Falcons responded with six straight points to move into the driver's seat and scored 8 of the final 10 points of the half to build a 13-point edge, which they carried into the intermission.
AFA improved on its shooting in the second half, shooting 20 of 28 from the field for a 71.4 percent clip. The Falcons made 13 of their first 19 attempts, scoring 11 of the first 13 points to open the half and ended up outscoring UNO 47-18 after the break.
Rarlensee Nelson was the top scorer for the Privateers, scoring 12 points while dishing out a team-high four assists.
Lovell Cook added 11 points.
“Unfortunately we did not walk forward tonight,” said UNO head coach
Mark Slessinger.” If you were here, you realize we did not go backwards too much.”
“Playing this game makes us better and playing three games in five days makes us better. This was a tough, tough game and we knew it would be. Hopefully we can take the video, take the experience and grow from it.”
After playing 8 of 10 games on the road over the last month, UNO will play four straight within the friendly confines of Lakefront Arena. The homestand begins Saturday at 12 p.m. against Champion Baptist.
NOTES
Wednesday's meeting was the first between UNO and one of the United States' service academics.
Lovell Cook has shot 50 percent or better from the field in 15 of 17 contests this season. Ranked No. 13 nationally in field goal percentage, Cook hit 5 of 9 shots and is now 43 of 73 over the last five games for a 58.9 percent clip.
