Falcons

General Information

NCAA Division: Division I

Conference: Mountain West

Past Conferences: MWC, WAC, Ind

City: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Stadium: Clune Arena

NCAA Tournaments: 1960, 1962, 2004, 2006

Championships:

• National Championships: 0
• Conference Titles: 1

NCAAB Air Force Falcons Team History

 The Air Force Falcons men’s basketball program began competing as an intercollegiate team in the 1956 season. The military branch would go through some major droughts, but they made their opportunities count when the opportunity came.

Like the other military branches in the country, it’s very difficult to recruit players as multiple obligations are involved. To participate in professional league drafts, players must defer their military obligations, which means a third party will decide what the outcome will be if the individual is selected.

Many get drafted in the later rounds or get camp invites as free agents, as numerous factors play a huge role. Despite the internal and external factors, the Falcons competed in their first NCAA Tournament in the 1960 season. They would lose a close battle to the DePaul Blue Demons in the first round.

A similar result would happen two seasons later, as they would lose a nail-biter to the Texas Tech Raiders in the opening round of the tournament. As a result of many events taking place throughout the nation’s history, this type of drought was expected for the program over the next four decades. 

Joe Scott Makes a Difference

While the school struggled in the Western Athletic Conference, it found some success in the Mountain West Conference. The program would experience its best years in the early 2000s. After a much-needed comeback to the dance, the Falcons finally got their chance in the 2004 season with Joe Scott calling the shots.

Spirits and odds were good as they were 12-2 against the rest of the conference. In addition to winning their only conference title, the team achieved their highest seeding (11th in the South Region) in the NCAA tournament, thanks to their hot start.

During this period, the Air Force showcased its best form despite going through several coaching changes. The Clune Arena would sell out by exceeding its capacity multiple times. Their last NCAA bid would take place in the 2006 season as they were bounced in the first round by the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Nevertheless, the Falcons men’s basketball team made their presence felt in the NIT the following year. They would reach the Semifinals before falling to the Clemson Tigers. The 2011 and 2013 seasons saw them reach the CIT, where they won one game each time.

Since then, the program is searching for an opportunity to go back to the dance. In addition, they have yet to get into the NCAA Tournament as their trips have ended in the first round.

Joe Scott will enter his sixth season as a head coach during his second stint with the program. Unfortunately, the team will face some difficult odds as the team is tied with the San Jose Spartans to win the Mountain West Conference.

All-Time NCAAB Air Force Falcons Records

Points Scored

• Raymond Dudley 2,178
• Otis Jones 2,003
• Tim Harris 1,550

Rebounds

• Reggie Jones 836
• Cliff Parsons 720
• Tom Bellairs 694

Assists

• Jeff Bowling 447
• Bob Djokovich 427
• Todd Fletcher 366

Steals

• Jacob Burtschi 196
• Tim Anderson 175
• Trevor Lyons 162

NCAAB Air Force Falcons FAQs