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Anderson, Nwaelele lead Air Force past New Mexico

Feb 11, 2007 - 3:11 AM ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (Ticker) -- After a seesaw battle Air Force was able to end its recent road woes.

Tim Anderson and Dan Nwaelele each scored 17 points to lead the 13th-ranked Falcons to a 60-51 triumph over New Mexico in a Mountain West Conference showdown, snapping a three-game road losing streak.

Leading, 45-43, late in the second half, Air Force (21-4, 8-3 Mountain West) posted a 7-2 run, capped by Nick Welch's follow shot with 2:40 remaining, to open a little space.

The Falcons converted all eight of their free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Jacob Burtschi scored 15 points for Air Force, which shot 42 percent (20-of-48) and dominated the points in the paint, 22-12.

J.R. Giddens netted 10 points for the Lobos (14-11, 3-7), who shot 32 percent (18-of-56), including just 7-of-23 from 3-point range.

"I thought Air Force did a better job than we did at executing in the last six minutes of the game," New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay said. "I think we went off on our own a little bit. I don't think we were working for the same shots that we were on defensively.

"You can't tell them more than we told them that they're going to drive the basketball. They drove it every time. For some reason we couldn't contain them."

The Falcons have swept the season series versus the Lobos and have beaten New Mexico in seven of the last nine contests.