GAME NOTES: The Colorado State Rams try to bring an end to a two-game slide on Saturday, as they clash with the Air Force Falcons in Mountain West Conference play at Clune Arena.

For most teams, losing two games in a row might not be that big of a deal, but when you consider just last week the Rams were nationally-ranked after starting 14-0 on the campaign, this is a bit of a unusual circumstance. Following a 71-65 victory against Boise State in the conference opener on New Year's Eve, moving CSU to a program-best 14-0, the team then tumbled at New Mexico last week, 66-53, and then came up short in the latest installment of the Border War with Wyoming on Wednesday night, 60-54, at Moby Arena.

With the setback to the Cowboys, Colorado State not only dropped to 1-2 in conference play, the team's 10-game home win streak also went by the boards.

As for the Falcons, a team which picked up quite a few wins against sub- standard competition in the early going, the start to the MWC schedule was less than favorable. The program began with a loss to San Diego State on New Year's Eve and continued with a setback to Nevada last weekend. However, Wednesday saw the Academy host an ailing San Jose State group and crush the Spartans in a 78-56 final.

Between these in-state rivals, the Rams own a 72-31 advantage in the all-time series, with the team also posting a 30-18 mark at USAFA. Colorado State has swept the season series for the last three seasons and has won nine of the last 10 encounters. The lone win for the Falcons during that stretch was a 74-57 decision at home in 2011.

The Rams made a total of just nine field goals in the first half versus visiting Wyoming, missing all four chances behind the 3-point line. Overall, CSU was limited to just 34.0 percent success from the floor and 2-of-14 on the perimeter, while turning the ball over 16 times. J.J. Avila was responsible for a game-high 23 points, cleared seven rebounds and made four steals, but it wasn't nearly enough to keep the squad out of the loss column for the second time in as many games.

A 53.6 percent shooter from the floor, Avila leads the Rams in scoring with 14.4 ppg and is also the top man in terms of rebounding (7.1 rpg) and steals (33), not to mention being tied for the most assists with Daniel Bejarano with 51 through 16 games. Stanton Kidd checks in with 11.2 ppg and Bejarano another 10.8 ppg, as well as 6.9 rpg for a squad that is generating 70.7 ppg and outscoring the competition by 7.5 ppg.

Against a San Jose State program which has yet to defeat another Division I school, the Falcons had little trouble soaring to a comfortable 22-point home win three nights ago. Marek Olesinski tallied 16 points, leading four in double figures for the Academy as it finished the night with an impressive 61.1 percent accuracy from the floor and 8-of-17 shooting behind the 3-point line.

Hayden Graham was responsible for another 14 points, Max Yon 13 and Zach Kocur 12 points and five assists off the bench. Air Force won the rebounding battle by a 32-22 margin and also influenced 14 turnovers by the Spartans.

A starter in all but one game this season, Yon is scoring 14.6 ppg and represents the only player in double figures for the Falcons heading into the weekend. He has done some serious damage behind the 3-point line where he is 43.5 percent accurate, the team a satisfactory 38.2 percent. Defensively, the Falcons are limiting foes to only 40.6 percent from the field and 32.1 percent on the perimeter, en route to 61.0 ppg.

The Falcons are by no means a weak link in the MWC, but Colorado State is in need of a stabilizing victory in order to regain some confidence and that should come this weekend if all goes well for the Rams.