Though Air Force was far more competitive against Utah State on Friday than in its first meeting with the Aggies, the result was the same.

Air Force lost 72-60 to No. 22 Utah State in Logan.

The Falcons kept Utah State in check down low early on and trailed 9-8 a few minutes into the game. But then, the Aggies went on a 7-0 run to get some space and eventually lead 43-30 at halftime.

Air Force came out hot after halftime, beginning the second half on an 8-2 run. The Falcons closed the gap to eight points midway through the half.

But after that, the Falcons went cold, and it proved costly.

Air Force went more than six minutes without scoring and committed three turnovers during that stretch. The Aggies went on an 11-0 run in that span and turned a single-digit game into a 19-point game.

Utah State guard Ian Martinez had the hot hand for the Aggies, leading them with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Forward Great Osobor, USU’s leading scorer, missed 10 minutes in the second half after going to the locker room with blood on his forehead. Osobor finished with only six points.

Four Falcons — Ethan Taylor, Rytis Petraitis, Beau Becker and Byron Brown — reached double figures. Taylor led Air Force with 15 points.

Utah State (24-5, 12-4 Mountain West) moved into first place in the conference standings with the win. The Aggies have played one more Mountain West game than second-place Boise State, and the Broncos can tie USU with a win against New Mexico on Saturday.

Air Force (9-19, 2-14) is tied with San Jose State for last place in the Mountain West. But because SJSU swept Air Force in the regular-season series, the Spartans hold the tiebreaker.

The Falcons stay on the road and will battle Wyoming on Tuesday.

Air Force guard Byron Brown (11) drives to the basket as Utah State guard Javon Jackson (22) defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, March. 1, 2024, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP)

Eli Lucero