Fresno State gets tourney bye with 54-48 win over Air Force (Feb 26, 2018)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) Bryson Williams scored 15 points with eight rebounds, Ray Bowles added 11 points, and Fresno State beat Air Force 54-48 on Monday night to clinch a first-round bye in the Mountain West Conference Tournament for the fourth straight season.
The Bulldogs (21-9, 11-6) entered the game third, behind Nevada and Boise State, in the conference standings and face fourth-place New Mexico on Saturday.
Fresno State held the Falcons to 28.6-percent shooting from the field, outscored them 30-20 in the paint, and led 23-19 at halftime.
Trevor Lyons and Lavelle Scottie hit two free throws apiece and Air Force tied it at 25, but Deshon Taylor answered with a 3 that put the Bulldogs up for good, 28-25, and sparked an 11-0 run. CJ Siples' layup capped a 9-2 Air Force run and the Falcons closed to 44-40 with 5:06 left, but got no closer.
Caleb Morris scored 12 points and Lyons had 11 with 10 rebounds for the Falcons (11-17, 5-11), who entered the game in ninth place.
