Colorado Springs, Colo. – Air Force shot 51.6 percent (16-for-31) from the field in the second half and used a pair of runs to pull away for a 64-52 victory over the
Robert Morris University men's basketball team Sunday in the Air Force Classic.
The Colonials dipped to 0-4 overall on the 2015-16 campaign, while the Falcons improved to 3-1.
Sophomore forward
Elijah Minnie buried a three-pointer early in the second half, which capped an 8-1 run to open the stanza and gave RMU a 30-23 advantage. Following the triple, Air Force called a timeout.
Out of the break the Falcons responded with a 16-5 surge to grab a 39-35 edge as Zach Kocur hit a pair of three-pointers, while Zach Moer scored four points.
Robert Morris got buckets from freshman guard
Steven Whitley and junior forward
Billy Giles to help stem the tide and pull the Colonials to within 41-39 before Air Force used a 14-2 spurt to open up a 55-41 cushion and take control. Ryan Manning and Moer each scored six points, with Moer capping the run with a steal and a dunk.
"We lost some purpose when Air Force made its run," head coach
Andrew Toole said. "We took some quick shots and had a few sloppy turnovers. Credit Air Force. They took advantage."
Neither team could muster much offensively in the first half, with the RMU grabbing a 22-21 halftime edge behind senior guard
Rodney Pryor, who finished with 16 points before the break. Combined, the two teams shot just 25.8 percent (16-for-62) from the field in the first 20 minutes of action.
"We had a very lethargic start," Toole said. "I'm not sure what buttons to push to get these guys excited at the beginning of a game. The margin of victory in a Division I basketball game is so small, every possession counts, whether it's the first possession or the last possession. We need to stop giving away possessions."
Pryor paced the Colonials by recording his first double-double of the year with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. He shot 9-for-18 from the floor, including a 4-for-10 performance from beyond the arc, while going 3-for-3 at the free-throw line. He also added three assists and two steals.
Minnie added 10 points and eight rebounds but finished just 4-for-13 shooting, including 1-for-6 from deep. As a team, RMU shot just 33.9 percent (20-for-59) from the field.
Hayden Graham finished two assists shy of a triple-double for Air Force, compiling 16 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Trevor Lyons added 14 points, while Moer posted 12 points, seven rebounds and two steals. Moer was 0-for-6 from the field in the first half but finished 6-for-13.
Robert Morris continues a five-game road trip as well as play in the Air Force Classic Tuesday, Nov. 24, with a 9:30 p.m. tip at New Mexico State.
Stat Of The Night2 –Career double-doubles for
Rodney Pryor after a 25-point, 10-rebound performance
