PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Nick Welch scored 16 points to
lead Air Force past BYU 52-49 Saturday afternoon.<P>The Falcons (12-6, 3-0
Mountain West) have now won six of their last seven, while the Cougars (6-13,
0-4) have lost five of their last six.<P>
Turnovers and missed free throws proved costly for the Cougars, as they allowed
12 steals and converted just 38 percent from the line.<P>The Falcons took a
lead they would not relinquish with 3:30 left, when a Welch 3-pointer put them
up 48-47. The Cougars answered with a basket by Jimmy Balderson to pull within
one before Antoine Hood scored a layup off a Matt McCraw steal.<P>
McCraw nailed two free throws with 11.6 left in the game, and BYU's Austin Ainge
missed a wild 3-point shot at the buzzer to seal the Falcon win.<P>Keena Young led BYU with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Next up for AFA: At Utah, 7pm, Monday, 22 Jan 05.