Hood nets 16 as Air Force tops visiting Utah

Jan 20, 2007, 12:02 am

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) -- Antoine Hood had 16 points and

Dan Nwaelele added 14 as Air Force beat visiting Utah 66-44

Thursday night.

Air Force (16-2, 4-1 Mountain West Conference) shot 68 percent

from the field for the game and a season-best 61.5 percent from

3-point range to improve their home winning streak to 12.

They are 36-1 at Clune Arena the last three seasons and avenged

their only loss in that period, a 65-56 loss to Utah, from a season

ago.

Air Force's second-ranked defense in scoring forced 20 turnovers

and had 11 steals in holding an opponent to less than 50 points for

the ninth time this season.

Luke Nevill led Utah (8-8, 1-4) with nine points.

Air Force built an early 22-7 lead by hitting four 3-pointers in

the game's first 10 minutes.

Center John Frye scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while Matt

McCraw added 11 points for the Falcons.