Air Force might be down another big man for Wednesday night’s game against New Mexico at Clune Arena.Freshman forward/center Taylor Broekhuis, who made his first career start last Wednesday against BYU, injured his hip Sunday in practice and is questionable for the game against the Lobos, Air Force coach Jeff Reynolds said Monday.Air Force definitely will be without sophomore center Sammy Schafer (concussion) and senior forward/center Grant Parker (pelvic injury), who have missed the past 13 and nine games, respectively. Senior center Mike McLain, who missed last week’s game against BYU with a concussion, is questionable.If McLain and Broekhuis can’t go, the Falcons will be precariously thin inside, which could mean trouble against New Mexico.“We’re concerned about their length,” Reynolds said about the Lobos.Sophomore guard/forward Taylor Stewart also is on the injury list as he recovers from surgery on his broken wrist.Hempsey seeing little timeAfter starting six games in Mountain West Conference play as a freshman, guard Shawn Hempsey is seeing limited playing time as a sophomore.The 6-foot-1 Hempsey has appeared in two of the Falcons’ first three league games and played a combined 6 minutes.Reynolds said coaches “haven’t been displeased with” Hempsey, but that freshman Todd Fletcher and senior Avery Merriex have played the majority of the minutes at the Falcons’ lead guard spot.Atkins won’t play this seasonSophomore guard Jon Atkins will not play this season to concentrate on academics. Reynolds said Atkins had his best semester in his time at the academy in the fall and “we look forward to getting Jon back next season.”

Jeff Reynolds Photo by THE GAZETTE FILE