Utah State breaks away to beat Air Force 78-65

Mar 1, 2016, 11:39 pm

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Chris Smith and Jalen Moore scored 23 points each and Utah State broke away through the second half to defeat Air Force 78-65 on Tuesday night.

Smith drained five 3-pointers and Moore four, including a trey late in the first half that sparked an 8-0 run to intermission. Smith and Darius Perkins hit back-to-back 3s early on the second half as Utah State built a 10-point lead, which grew as large as 18 (66-48).

Moore's first-half 3-pointer boosted the Aggies from one point down, breaking open a game that had been close to that point with 10 lead changes.

Perkins finished with seven assists and six points on a pair of 3-pointers. Utah State (15-13, 7-10 Mountain West) made 14 of 34 shots from deep.

Hayden Graham led Air Force (14-16, 5-12) with 14 points, C.J. Siples added 13.

Utah State scored 18 points off 13 Air Force turnovers, and outrebounded the Falcons 36-27.