POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team lost 59-48 to the Air Force Academy on Saturday afternoon in Colorado Springs.
The Bengals led 24-21 at halftime but was outscored 38-24 in the second half.
Robert Ford III led Idaho State with 19 points on 5-8 shooting. He was 4-7 from the three-point line and 5-6 from the foul line.
Idaho State was out rebounded 29-21.
Malik Porter had six rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench while
Austin Smellie had five.
Idaho State shot 29 percent for the game while Air Force finished shooting 54.5 percent. ISU was forced into 17 turnovers and the Falcons had 19.
The game was tied at 17 with 5:37 left in the first half. Smellie then converted on an three-point play to give ISU a 20-17 lead. Then with the game tied at 21, Ford hit a three-pointer with three seconds left to give the Bengals a 24-21 lead.
In the first 10 minutes of the second half, the Bengals only points came from the three throw line. AFA then capitalized to take a 42-31 lead.
The Falcons biggest lead in the second half was 16 in the final two minutes.
Idaho State returns to the Court Dec. 2, and Dec. 4 for Big Sky Conference games vs. Portland State and Northern Arizona. Tip off vs. Portland State is at 7 p.m. on Dec. 2 and tip time vs. NAU on Dec. 4 is at 6 p.m.
