COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Offensive struggles and a second-half run by Air Force cost Lamar University in a 59-44 loss to the Falcons Saturday afternoon at Clune Arena. The loss drops LU to 0-4 on the season.
 
LU trailed by just four points with just over 13 minutes remaining, but Air Force rattled off a 20-6 run to take an 18-point lead with less than five to play. In addition to USAFA's run, the Cardinals shot just 32 percent (16-of-50) from the field preventing them from significantly cutting into the deficit in the latter stages of the game. The Falcons lead grew to as many as 19 before the Red and White started chipping away.
 
The Cardinals went away from the three-point shot Saturday attempting only six threes in the game. LU did a good job of holding onto the basketball turning it over just 12 times while forcing their hosts into 17 mistakes. The Cards managed to score 18 points from Air Force's mistakes. The two teams tied on the glass with 29 rebounds each.
 
It was clear early in the contest that it was going to be a defensive struggle as both teams went into the first media timeout without denting the scoreboard. Air Force got on the board first with a bucket at the 14:29 mark. The Cardinals answered by scoring the game's next six points. The Cardinals took their first lead of the game on an Ellis Jefferson basket with 12:18 remaining and held that lead for the 3:37 before Air Force jumped back in front and carried a three-point lead into halftime.
 
Air Force shot better than 50 percent from the field knocking down 21-of-41 attempts (.512), including nine three-pointers.
 
The Cardinals were led by two players in double figures – senior Avery Sullivan and junior Quinlan Bennett each scored 10. Sophomore Anderson Kopp added eight points, which is the first time this season the Houston native didn't hit double figures. Air Force also had two players in double figures led by Chris Joyce's game-high 23.
 
The Cardinals return to action Wednesday when they travel to Monroe, La., to take on UL Monroe. The game against the Warhawks will tip off at 6 p.m. from Fant-Ewing Arena.