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How can Air Force overcome struggles at Clune Arena?

Winning at Clune Arena has been a problem for Air Force this season.

The Falcons are 4-11 at home this season, most recently losing 79-48 to Boise State on Tuesday. Their last win at Clune came on Nov. 22.

“I know there’s something to it,” Air Force coach Joe Scott said. “We have to correct it.”

All four of Air Force’s home wins came in November. The four opponents the Falcons beat are all ranked below 250 in the NET.

Since Air Force’s last win, against VMI, the Falcons are 0-10 at Clune Arena. Six of the 10 straight home losses were by double digits.

A lack of focus is what Scott credits to these home-court issues.

“They’re just distracted by the stupid stuff, looking at their phones,” Scott said. “It has nothing to do with basketball.”

Air Force hasn’t been great away from the Academy either, as the Falcons still have a losing record (5-6) on the road. But it’s much better than their .267 winning percentage at home, and Air Force’s two best wins — against UNLV and New Mexico — were both on the road.

Toughness is an area that Scott cited as a weakness following the Boise State loss. And the coach sees better performance at home as a metric to determine his squad’s toughness.

“It’s a four-year thing,” Scott said. “We’re still working on that, growing that way. That has to be a focus for us.”

It’s worth noting that Air Force doesn’t have much of a home-court advantage from a crowd perspective.

Air Force is last in the Mountain West in attendance, averaging 1,269 spectators per game.

That’s actually a 382-person increase from the 2022-23 season. But it’s also over 600 fans per game lower than 10th-place San Jose State’s average (2,128).

“I think the crowd’s been fine,” Scott said. “You never know with the cadets, and I don’t really concern myself with that. It’s been pretty good outside of that.

“In the end … it’s about getting tougher and stronger. When that comes, that’s the answer about putting people in the stands.”

The good news for the Falcons? Two of their last three regular-season games are on the road.

Air Force battles Utah State in Logan on Friday before facing Wyoming in Laramie on Wednesday. The Falcons end the season at home against Colorado State on March 9.

The Falcons upset New Mexico 78-77 in their last road game. The Lobos were ranked No. 20 in the NET at the time and is Air Force’s lone quad-one win this season.

Scott is hopeful that his team can generate momentum on its road trip before returning to Clune for the home finale.

“We have to be able to go to Utah State and say the same thing on Friday. I want to see a team that goes into an unbelievable environment, like we just did, and be ready to go. That’s what we have to do.”

UNLV's Keylan Boone shoots in front of Air Force's Kellan Boylan on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (CarsonFieldcarson.field@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://gazettedev.gazette.com/content/tncms/avatars/4/7a/429/47a42948-28a4-11ed-8b0f-bb3cd838e4dd.3200121c31cba8acba4c00989d6ff673.png)
UNLV’s Keylan Boone shoots in front of Air Force’s Kellan Boylan on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (CarsonFieldcarson.field@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://gazettedev.gazette.com/content/tncms/avatars/4/7a/429/47a42948-28a4-11ed-8b0f-bb3cd838e4dd.3200121c31cba8acba4c00989d6ff673.png)
Air Force’s Ethan Taylor argues a call against Wyoming on Jan. 30. (CarsonFieldcarson.field@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://gazettedev.gazette.com/content/tncms/avatars/4/7a/429/47a42948-28a4-11ed-8b0f-bb3cd838e4dd.3200121c31cba8acba4c00989d6ff673.png)
Air Force’s Ethan Taylor argues a call against Wyoming on Jan. 30. (CarsonFieldcarson.field@gazettedev.gazette.comhttps://gazettedev.gazette.com/content/tncms/avatars/4/7a/429/47a42948-28a4-11ed-8b0f-bb3cd838e4dd.3200121c31cba8acba4c00989d6ff673.png)

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