Martinez scores 21 to help No. 22 Utah State top Air Force 72-60
Air Force guard Byron Brown (11) drives to the basket as Utah State guard Javon Jackson (22) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, March. 1, 2024, in Logan, Utah. Credit: AP/Eli Lucero
LOGAN, Utah — Ian Martinez scored 21 points to lead No. 22 Utah State to a 72-60 victory over Air Force on Friday night.
Mason Falslev added 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists to help the Aggies (24-5, 12-4 Mountain West) win their third straight game.
Ethan Taylor led Air Force with 15 points. Rytis Petraitis chipped in 14 points and Beau Becker added 12 for the Falcons (9-19, 2-14) ,who lost for the ninth time in 10 games.
Utah State made six straight baskets and scored on eight consecutive possessions overall to build a 34-19 lead late in the first half. Martinez led the charge with two baskets and a pair of free throws during that decisive stretch.
Air Force trimmed the deficit to single digits after halftime, cutting Utah State’s lead to 56-48 with 12:14 left after Taylor and Becker knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers
That’s as close as Air Force got before the Aggies pulled away again. The Falcons endured a seven-minute scoring drought, opening the door for Utah State push its lead back to double digits.
Javon Jackson’s fastbreak layup capped an 11-0 run that gave the Aggies a 67-48 lead with 5:27 remaining.
Utah State guard Josh Uduje (14) dunks as Air Force guard Byron Brown (11) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, March. 1, 2024, in Logan, Utah. Credit: AP/Eli Lucero
BIG PICTURE
Air Force has never won a road game against a ranked opponent and fell to 4-91 all-time against ranked teams.
Utah State led wire to wire while taking another step closer to clinching a share of the Mountain West Conference regular season title.
UP NEXT
Utah State guard Darius Brown II (10) drives to the basket as Air Force guard Ethan Taylor (5) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, March. 1, 2024, in Logan, Utah. Credit: AP/Eli Lucero
Air Force visits Wyoming on Tuesday.
Utah State visits San Jose State on Wednesday.
