Freshman Kam Sanders scored with 16 seconds left to give Air Force a 66-64 victory over Alabama State at Clune Arena on Wednesday night. The Falcons, now 1-4 for the season, overcame a nine-point deficit to secure their first win.
Ethan Greenberg, Lucas Hobin, and Caleb Walker led Air Force offensively, contributing a combined 50 points. Hobin recorded a career-high 20 points, making four three-pointers and going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Walker posted his first career double-double with 17 points and a personal best of 12 rebounds. Greenberg added 13 points, including three shots from beyond the arc.
Alabama State guards Micah Simpson and Asjon Anderson were responsible for most of their team’s scoring with a total of 44 points. Simpson had a game-high of 30 points while Anderson finished with 14.
The game was close in the first half until Alabama State closed with a seven-point run to lead 39-32 at halftime. Early in the second half, Alabama State extended its lead to nine before Air Force responded with an 11-2 run to tie the score at 50. During this period, Air Force made four three-pointers within three minutes and later took the lead on another Greenberg shot.
The teams exchanged leads late in the game until Alabama State went ahead by two with just over three minutes remaining. However, they did not score again as Air Force tied it through Hobin after an assist from Walker and then took the lead for good on Sanders’ drive to the basket. Alabama State missed a final three-point attempt as time expired.
Air Force finished shooting 50 percent from the field and made nine three-pointers—a season high—while also out-rebounding Alabama State by nine boards (33-24).
Air Force will next host the Air Force Classic this weekend, featuring games on Friday and Sunday. IU Indy faces Alabama State at noon Friday followed by SIUE against Air Force at 4 p.m. Mountain Time.
