Wright State vs. Air Force Academy

  • Published
  • By Bill Hancock
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The Wright State University, Raiders will take on the United States Air Force Academy Falcons men's basketball team on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at the WSU Nutter Center.

"This should be a great game between the Falcons and the Raiders" said Col. Amanda Gladney, 88th Air Base Wing commander, "It's a real treat for us at Wright-Patt to watch what should be an exciting Division I match-up. I have a feeling the Nutter Center will be full of electricity with an enthusiastic crowd of fans wearing Air Force Blue, in addition to those in hunter green and gold."

This will be the first time WSU has played the USAF Academy.

The USAF Academy is located in Colorado Springs, Colo. Founded in 1948, the USAFA is both a military organization and a university. The Academy is like other Air Force bases and is home to the 10th Air Base Wing, but, the superintendent, commandant, dean of faculty and cadet wing are set up in a manner resembling a civilian university. USAFA is a four-year program of instruction, experience, and each cadet graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force.

Two members of the USAFA men's basketball team are Ohio natives. Senior Cadet, Evan Washington is a graduate of Reynoldsburg High School, near Columbus, Ohio and Junior Cadet, Scott Stucky, hails from Dublin Coffman High School, Dublin, Ohio, which is also near Columbus.

"This will be the first time my family has seen me play college level ball" said Stucky, "I suffered a torn ACL my freshman and sophomore year and to finally be able to play back home is a dream come true. I have friends currently attending Wright-State."

Stucky and Washington played against one another during their high school careers.

"This has been 4 years of craziness." said Washington, "Being a student athlete at the Air Force Academy requires lots of time management. I have become very good at balancing academics and basketball."

To date, the Air Force Academy men's basketball season record is 3 -1. Wright State's is 3-3 coming off a loss to Southern Illinois.

"This game is going to be a lot of fun" said Washington "We are planning to play hard and let what happens happen" Stucky echoed his sentiments and added "It's not easy attending the Air Force Academy, we are expected to excel in academics and sports, but, we come because we like to live up to challenges."

The Air Force Academy - Wright State University men's basketball challenge starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.