REYNOLDS TAKES BLAME FOR TOUGH HOME LOSS

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Feb 10, 2008 | by JAKE SCHALLER

Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds blamed himself for the Falcons' 67- 59 loss to Utah on Saturday, saying he "let the academy down."

"I can't blame it on the kids, I did a bad job," Reynolds said. "Simple as that. (The Utes) were better prepared, they outtoughed us. That's my fault. Hard to swallow."

Air Force had four players score in double figures and turned the ball over only six times -- tying its lowest total of the season.

"I thought we distributed the ball very well," Reynolds said. "I thought we attacked the rim very well. As a coach, I just was calling the wrong plays."

Asked what he would do differently if given a chance, Reynolds said, "I'd have to go back and look at the tape."

Washington bounces back

Air Force freshman guard Evan Washington made all five of his shots from the floor, including a 3-pointer. He finished with 11 points, his most since the start of Mountain West Conference play.

Washington had made only 3 of 24 shots in his previous five games and scored 2, 0 and 0 points in his previous three games.

"I thought he was solid," Reynolds said. "I thought his effort was the best it's been offensively."

Forefathers

Air Force welcomed back former players Saturday for a homecoming.

Among the players honored at halftime were 1959 graduate Bob Blake; Tim Harris (1981), who is third on the academy's all-time scoring list; Jeff Bowling (1990), the program's all-time assists leader; 2004 graduates A.J. Kuhle and Joel Gerlach, who led the Falcons to the NCAA Tournament; and 2007 graduate Jacob Burtschi, the school's all-time leader in steals.

Etc.

Air Force made 18 of 27 free throws, including 8 of 8 in the final 3:16. But the Falcons missed 8 of their first 10 attempts from the line, including 4 of 6 in the final 1:26 of the first half.... The last time Air Force led by double digits at the half and went on to lose was Feb. 10, 1996, at San Diego State. The Falcons led by 10 and lost by nine.