Wayne McKinney III’s buzzer beating layup lifts Aztecs past Air Force in overtime

Wayne McKinney III scored a season-high 18 points, the last two coming on a full court driving layup as time expired to give San Diego State a 77-76 win at Air Force in overtime on Wednesday night.

The Aztecs (12-5, 5-3 Mountain West) won their 11th consecutive game against the Falcons and sixth straight in Clune Arena, but it was the first time of the 11 that a game went to overtime and first game of the six to be decided by single digits.

Air Force (3-16, 0-8 MW) will continue to seek its first win since December 7, and first win of conference play when it hosts Utah State on Saturday afternoon.

The teams went back and forth in the first few minutes of the game with the Falcons taking an 8-6 lead four and a half minutes into the game. The Aztecs offense responded by firing off an 11-0 run, taking a nine-point lead as Jared Coleman-Jones made a pair of three-pointers and Taj DeGourville added one. Air Force was able to get back within one possession before a Kimo Ferrari three brought the lead back up to five with just under five minutes remaining in the half. Ethan Taylor scored the last seven points of the half for the Falcons, cutting the deficit to a point before a Coleman-Jones jumper and free throw gave the Aztecs a 35-31 lead heading into the halftime break.

Magoon Gwath had a three-point play on the opening possession of the second half and McKinney III scored the next 10 points for San Diego State to go up 48-38 with 14:33 left in the game. Air Force responded with a 15-4 run to take a one point lead, its first since 8-6, with 8:47 remaining in regulation. The teams traded baskets with the Aztecs still down a point after a Coleman-Jones layup with 4:50 left. The Falcons made three free throws to go up four but two Miles Byrd free throws and a pair of DeGourville jumpers put the Aztecs up two with 49 seconds remaining. Kyle Marshall scored a quick layup immediately afterwards to tie the game but missed a free throw to take the lead. McKinney III and DeGourville had looks but were unable to convert and the game went to overtime tied at 68.

The Falcons won the jump ball in overtime and Taylor was fouled shooting a three. He would convert all his free throws to take a three-point lead. BJ Davis was fouled on the other end and made a free throw for SDSU. After the Aztecs forced a turnover, Davis made a layup to tie the game at 71 with 3:47 left. Luke Kearney was fouled on the other end and made his free throws to retake a two-point lead. Following missed shots on both sides, McKinney made two foul shots to tie the game at 73. San Diego State got a stop followed by a DeGourville jumper to take the lead. A Gwath block on the other end helped lead to a shot clock violation but the Aztecs were unable to take advantage, and the Falcons got the ball back with 27 seconds left. Yoda Oke went to the line and made his first free throw but missed the second. However, Celichowski tipped the ball in to give Air Force a 76-75 lead with four seconds left. The Aztecs had a chance to regroup during a review of the tip in. DeGourville threw the ball in to McKinney, who got a crack screen from Coleman-Jones and drove to the basket for a layup as the buzzer sounded, sending the Aztecs home victorious, 77-76.

Along with McKinney III’s 18 points, Coleman-Jones (14 points, six rebounds) and DeGourville (11 points, seven rebounds) finished in double figures for the Aztecs. Gwath chipped in nine points with seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Byrd excelled defensively with four steals and three blocks. 

Wesley Celichowski (22 points) and Taylor (21 points, eight rebounds) led the way for Air Force. Kearney contributed 14 points and Marshall grabbed 11 rebounds.

Air Force scored at a higher rate from the field (43.2%-41.5%), beyond the arc (40.0%-22.2%) and the free throw line (68.2%-63.0%). San Diego State had eight steals and seven blocks, only turning the ball over six times, while the Falcons tallied just one block and three steals while turning the ball over 17 times. The Aztecs scored more from the field, draining 27 field goals to Air Force’s 19 and outscoring the Falcons off turnovers (19-8), in the paint (38-22), and off the bench (34-9).