Air Force basketball falls to LIU 57–51 on Veterans Day as Sharks win the glass and the clutch minutes
Air Force basketball couldn’t close out a tight one at Clune Arena on Tuesday, dropping a 57–51 decision to LIU basketball in a low-possession grinder that flipped late on extra efforts and second-chance points. The Falcons led 33–32 at halftime but were outscored 25–18 after the break as the Sharks’ size and rebounding started to tell.
How LIU closed it: rebounds, timely drives, and fewer mistakes
Both teams defended well and kept turnovers level (11–11), which put a premium on small advantages. LIU found them on the glass and at pivotal moments:
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Board battle: LIU +9 on rebounds (32–23) and +4 on the offensive glass (11–7) extended enough trips to swing a one- or two-possession game.
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Shot profile: The Sharks were selective from deep (5/9, 55.6%) and finished just enough at the rim in crunch time.
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Composure: In the final eight minutes, LIU strung together stops and manufactured points off live-ball rebounds and half-court actions, turning a 49–49 knot into a controlled finish.
Box score highlights
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Final: LIU 57, Air Force 51 (Halftime: Air Force 33–32)
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Shooting: LIU 21/46 (45.7%), Air Force 18/40 (45.0%)
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3PT: LIU 5/9 (55.6%), Air Force 5/13 (38.5%)
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FT: LIU 10/21 (47.6%), Air Force 10/18 (55.6%)
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Rebounds: LIU 32 (11 OR), Air Force 23 (7 OR)
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Assists/TO: Both 9 assists, 11 turnovers
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Steals/Blocks: LIU 8/3; Air Force 5/3
Leaders
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LIU: Malachi Davis 13 pts, 3 reb; Greg Gordon 7 pts, 4 ast; strong committee work on the glass.
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Air Force: Eli Robinson 14 pts (5/7 FG), Kam Sanders 12 pts, Wesley Celichowski 10 pts; Ethan Greenberg 6 pts, 5 reb.
What it means for Air Force basketball
This was there for the taking. Air Force executed cleanly early—cutting, spacing, and leveraging Robinson’s touch—but couldn’t sustain shot creation when LIU turned up the physicality. Three themes for the Falcons as they pivot to the next one:
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Finish possessions: The scheme generated first-shot stops; the difference was ending those stops with rebounds. Cleaning up box-outs and gang-rebounding from guards is step one.
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Free-throw margin: In a half-court contest, 10-for-18 at the line leaves points behind. Routine reps and late-game breathing at the stripe matter.
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Secondary playmaking: When the initial action stalled, LIU sat on the first read. Developing a second trigger—short-roll passing or a guard-on-guard flare—will help against switchy mid-majors.
What it signals for LIU basketball
For the Sharks, winning on the road at altitude with modest shooting volume is a quality early-season data point. The profile—efficient threes, glass control, and opportunistic driving—travels well. If LIU keeps the turnover rate around even while maintaining rebounding edge, the Sharks will remain dangerous in tight margins away from Brooklyn.
Turning points you might have missed
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Mid-second-half rebounding run: A quick sequence of two LIU offensive boards led to a put-back and a foul, nudging momentum to the visitors and forcing Air Force into a timeout.
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Selective three-point attempts: LIU declined early-clock contested looks and waited for inside-out touches—why 9 attempts were enough.
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Robinson’s stretch muted: After a strong start, LIU shaded help from the nail to crowd his touches; Air Force’s counters yielded more midrange than rim pressure.
Schedule context and what’s next
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Air Force returns to Clune needing to translate defensive grit into complete possessions and better late-game shot quality. The framework is solid; margins are solvable.
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LIU heads home with a split of its opening road swings and a template that won’t require hot shooting to win: win the boards, win the shot selection, win the final five minutes.
On a day defined by defense, LIU’s extra possessions and late-game execution decided it. Air Force 51, LIU 57 will read like a narrow loss, but the film will show a clear to-do list for the Falcons: finish stops, cash free throws, and unlock a second playmaking gear when the first action stalls.
