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No. 20 Air Force overpowers Norfolk State

Dec 14, 2006 - 3:50 AM COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Ticker) -- Air Force has found the ideal formula - great defense, superb 3-point shooting and a mediocre opposition.

Jacob Burtschi scored 14 points to lead four players in double figures as No. 20 Air Force posted its second straight lopsided win with a 70-47 victory over Norfolk State.

The Falcons (11-1), who entered having limited their opponents to 54.5 points, connected on a season-high 15 3-pointers in 29 attempts to cap off a perfect seven-game homestand.

"We're ranked No. 1 in offensive efficiency and No. 2 in field goal percentage," Falcons coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "We're going to need that ... we've got some difficult games ahead of us.

"We practice threes every day. It is a major weapon of ours. It's a major part of our offense."

The win came on the heels of a suffocating 82-31 rout of Division III Colorado College, in which Air Force made 11-of-22 from the arc and held the Tigers to six first-half points, an NCAA low since the shot clock was introduced in 1985-86.

Norfolk State (1-5) wasn't as much of a pushover, but Air Force took command with an 11-0 run to take a 16-5 lead midway through the first half en route to a 35-19 lead at the break.

The lead never got under double digits as the Falcons extended their home winning streak to 24 overall and 31 against non-conference foes.

"(Norfolk State) gave us looks. I think that a lot of people just look at the name," Bzdelik said. "Norfolk State was picked second in their league (MEAC). Everyone is good and you have to respect everyone."

Dan Nwaelele scored 12 points and Andrew Henke and Matt McCaw added 11 each for Air Force, which shot 51 percent (26-of-51) in starting 11-1 for the second straight season.

Troy Murphy scored 15 points to lead the Spartans, who were playing the second of a nine-game road trip.