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Corey Lyons
Mark Sutton

Men's Basketball Matt Michalec, SID

Anderson, Air Force Pull Away from Spartans, 65-53

Murphy Ties All-Time NSU 3-point Record

Corey Lyons Scored 19 Points to Pace the Spartans

Box Score

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Tim Anderson scored 19 points to lead four Air Force players in double figures, and the host Falcons beat Norfolk State for the second straight year, 65-53, on Thursday night at Clune Arena.

One year to the date after topping the Spartans 70-47 in their first-ever meeting, the Falcons (7-4), NIT semifinalists in 2007, shot 68 percent from the floor (13-of-19) in the second half to pull away from NSU (2-6).

Neither team led by more than five points in a low-scoring first half. Air Force held a 20-17 halftime lead despite shooting just 33 percent (7-of-21) from the floor and 11 percent (1-of-9) from 3-point range. The Spartans shot just 26 percent (7-of-27) from the floor, 14 percent (2-of-14) from behind the arc in the opening 20 minutes. But they stayed close behind seven points from Corey Lyons (Bronx, N.Y.) and by outrebounding the Falcons 21-14.

Air Force slowly stretched its lead by making its first seven field goals in the second half, capped by an Evan Washington 3-pointer that gave the Falcons their first double-digit advantage, 36-24, with 13:54 left. The Spartans cut their deficit back into double figures thanks to 3-pointers by Raphael Hall (Chesapeake, Va.) and Jeremy Banks (Elizabeth City, N.C.).

But Air Force kept NSU at bay by making its free throws. The Falcons shot a sizzling 91 percent (20-of-22) from the foul line, 94 percent (15-of-16) in the second half. Anderson was 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. NSU attempted just four free throws during the game, making two.

Anwar Johnson added 12 points, Washington 11 and Keith Maren 10 for Air Force.

Lyons led the Spartans with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting. He also had three assists. Tony Murphy (Paterson, N.J.) was the only other Spartan in double figures, with 10 points. Murphy, who also handed out a team-high four assists, sank two 3-pointers to tie Carnell Penn's all-time school record of 205.

Brandon Monroe (Raeford, N.C.) had six rebounds to pace the Spartans, who outrebounded the Falcons 31-25.

NSU returns to action on Tuesday in a 7 p.m. game at Campbell.

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