A Magical Day

   Every once in a while as an announcer you catch magic in a bottle. That magic was Saturday afternoon at Clune Arena as the Air Force men's Basketball team hosted 12th ranked New Mexico. It was the final regular season game and it was also Senior Day. Despite awful weather,  a season high 6100 plus jammed into Clune Arena, and what they saw was magic. Air Force beat the Lobos 89-88, and one could make an argument it was the best game EVER PLAYED at Clune-by both teams. New Mexico had a lot to play for, hoping for a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They brought their "A" game. The Falcons had been in a tailspin, losing 6 of their last 8, and needed some mojo heading into this weeks Mountain West Tournament. Over the course of 2 hours the teams beat the daylights out of each other, both shooting well over 50%. Air Force trailed by 4 with 19 seconds left. Then Senior Mike Lyons, hit a LONG 3 point shot to bring Air Force to within 1. The Falcons fouled Kendal Williams, and the New Mexico guard made 1 of 2 free throws leaving Air Force down 2 with 12 seconds left. The ball came to Lyons, and 3 Lobos went after him, as they should. He saw Todd Fletcher in the right corner and threw him the ball. Todd caught it, and in one motion let it fly, and it dropped straight through for a 1 point Air Force lead. New Mexico had a quick look at a long 3 late, which missed and the Falcons celebrated with delirious joy. That's a game they will talk about for years. And it propels Air Force into the Mountain West Tournament which begins at 1 Wednesday afternoon on Animal 1300 as the Falcons meet UNLV. They lost to the Runnin Rebels by 5 in overtime in January, then beat them up good in February at Clune. Don't tell Air Force they can't win Wednesday, and don't tell them they can't make a run in the Mountain West Tournament. After all, they can create Magic.