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Air Force, Santa Clara face off in tournament championship

Dec 29, 2006 - 4:33 PM No. 17 Air Force (12-1) at Santa Clara (10-4) 11:30 pm EST

SANTA CLARA, California (Ticker) -- After more than two weeks off, Air Force will play its second game in as many nights.

The 17th-ranked Falcons will host Santa Clara in the championship game of the Cable Car Classic on Friday.

After a postponement of last Saturday's game vs. Northern Colorado due to the blizzard that inundated the Denver area, the Falcons had not played since December 13 - a 70-47 rout of Norfolk State. However, on Thursday, they didn't show any signs of rust in the tournament's opening game vs. George Washington.

Jacob Burtschi scored 21 points and Dan Nwaelele added 19 as the Falcons used a stellar second half to post a 66-52 victory over the Colonials. Off to one of its best starts in school history, Air Force will face Colorado State in its conference opener on January 3.

Santa Clara barely got by as John Bryant had 10 points and nine rebounds in helping the Broncos beat Colgate, 53-39 on Thursday.

Santa Clara has won four of its last five contests.