Rams Beat Air Force, 51-49

Forward Brian Greene had a game-high 18 points and 15 points to lead Colorado State to a 51-49 win over Air Force Saturday night in Mountain West Conference men's basketball action.

Colorado State is now 13-4 overall and 2-0 in MWC play heading into a Saturday night, Jan. 25 game with Wyoming at 7 p.m. in Moby Arena. Air Force is 9-6, 0-2. The Falcons play at Wyoming Monday night, Jan. 20.

Greene, a six-foot, eight-inch senior from Brighton, Colo., scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half including the first four of the final frame, erasing a two-point Air Force intermission lead.

"In the second half, Brian Greene came out and was the difference, getting us going offensively, running, hitting the big jumpers," said Rams' coach Dale Layer. "Turnovers got us in deep difficulty in the first half,"

said Layer of the team's 10 first-half miscues. "Air Force is a good basketball team," he said. "(Coach) Joe Scott does a terrific job. You feel like you've been through the ringer after the game. Every possession is unbelievably valuable."

Greene's basket with 18:54 to play broke the game's third tie, and pushed Colorado State to a 22-20 lead. The game was tied a total of six times and there were nine lead changes. The final tie came with 14:16 to play when AFA's A.J. Kuhle hit a three-pointer to erase Colorado State's 30-27 lead.

But Rams' guard Andy Birley came back 30 seconds later with his second straight three-pointer to give Colorado State a 33-30 lead, an advantage the Rams would never lose.

Colorado State finished the game by shooting 51 percent from the floor, while holding the Falcons - the nation's top shooting team entering the game - to just 38 percent, 18-of-48 field goals.

"You've got to be pleased any time you hold Air Force to 38 percent. It is extremely hard to prepare for them," said Layer of the Falcons' offensive style. "They are tough to prepare for not only because they are the best drilled team we play all year, but their players are so much better."

Center Matt Nelson joined Greene in double figures with 15 points and had seven rebounds. Only three other Rams scored in the game. Guard Micheal Morris added seven points, including a clutch three-pointer, Birley had six on the pair of treys, and Ronnie Clark added five points.

Forward Tom Bellairs led Air Force with 16 points and guard Tim Keller added 12. Bellairs led the Falcons with eight rebounds.