Air Force falls 83-72 to Wyoming despite Kellan Boylan’s 3-point frenzy
One man can’t win his team a basketball game, and Air Force learned that the hard way on Tuesday.
A sophomore guard, Kellan Boylan logged 32 points and hit nine 3-pointers against Wyoming, setting a couple of program records. But the overall team effort wasn’t enough, as Wyoming beat Air Force 83-72.
Even though Air Force didn’t win, Boylan was proud of his career night.
“It was the coaches instilling in me to be confident,” Boylan said. “It kind of felt like practice.”
Boylan got hot early and never cooled off. He scored 13 points by the game’s first media timeout, just seven minutes into play.
Boylan played 38 minutes before eventually fouling out. The first-year starter shot 11 of 16 from the field.
His nine 3-pointers broke Air Force’s program record for threes in a Mountain West game and tied for the most in any game in program history. He also made the most threes by a sophomore in a conference game in MW history.
Boylan’s previous career high was 15 points.
“He’s worked really hard in his shooting: That’s why we do it,” Air Force coach Joe Scott said. “I’m hopeful for him, individually, that he now knows. If that’s true, we have a 6-foot-6 sophomore who can grow, and that’s all part of his process.”
The problem? Air Force’s other seven players who entered the game didn’t do much offensively.
Without Boylan, the Falcons shot 41.6% from the field. That paled in comparison to Wyoming’s 56% clip.
Ethan Taylor and Rytis Petraitis were the next highest scorers, each scoring 11 points. Beau Becker, who entered the game averaging 15.8 points per game, finished with just 3.
“I think we faded a little bit,” Boylan said. “We were kind of tired. It came back to bite us.”
And while Air Force held close to Wyoming for the entire game — and led for most of the first half — the Falcons were never ever able to stymie the Cowboys’ offense.
Early in the second half, Wyoming (12-9, 5-3 Mountain West) went on a 16-0 run and took a 13-point lead. Wyoming shot 63.2% from three for the game, as guard Brendan Wenzel made six.
Wenzel finished with a team-high 25 points. Forward Mason Walters scored 22 and guard Akuel Kot ended with 20 — that trio combined for 67 points.
“It’s a little bit annoying,” Boylan said. “We know scouting reports, so we kind of knew how they were going to play. We just didn’t do a good job of getting our ground against the big man. We just kept letting them get shots off.”
Air Force (8-12, 1-7) has lost 10 of its last 11 games. The Falcons are tied with San Jose State for last place in the Mountain West.
Next for Air Force is a road game against Boise State on Saturday.
“Each game, we’re learning,” Boylan said. “We’re taking something new from each game. I think we’re making progress. We just need to take another step and solidify as a group.”
Air Force’s Kellan Boylan drives against Wyoming’s Caden Powell on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
Air Force’s Rytis Petraitis attempts a contested shot against Wyoming on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
Air Force’s Rytis Petraitis drives against Wyoming on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
Air Force’s Luke Kearney tries to move around Wyoming’s Mason Walters on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
Air Force’s Kellan Boylan passes against Wyoming on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.
Air Force’s Ethan Taylor passes while guarded by Wyoming’s Akuel Kot on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024.