FORT COLLINS –- Air Force basketball’s adversity has only made the bond between players stronger.

Three days after head coach Joe Scott was indefinitely suspended pending an investigation into the treatment of cadet-athletes, the Falcons had another blowout loss to a tough Colorado State team. 

In Air Force’s last visit to Moby Arena as Mountain West opponents, the Rams had the last word with a 81-52 blowout win over the Falcons on Tuesday. Air Force (3-16, 0-8 Mountain West) put up the first points, but a 10-0 run in the first half allowed the Rams (12-7, 3-5) to lead for the rest of the contest. 

But for interim head coach Jon Jordan, he’s not so much concerned about the score as how the team responds to adversity. 

“We have faced adversity all year and are still facing adversity but are really focusing on how we respond to adversity,” Jordan said. “They have responded positively, attacking the goals and challenges we have for them.

“It’s a work in progress and going to take time. We aren’t shying away from the challenge.” 

Jordan is in the fourth year of his second stint with Air Force men’s basketball, making this his ninth year with the program. Jordan was also on the Air Force staff from 2000 to 2005 under Scott and Chris Mooney.

A 1985 academy graduate, Jordan has 22 years of coaching experience and served 20 years in the Air Force, retiring in 2004 as a major. He was also the prep school head coach from 1994-98 and was the prep school’s athletic director from 1995-98. 

“He’s big on belief and making sure we have confidence in ourselves,” freshman Ethan Greenberg said. “Just collectively believing.” 

The Falcons were without junior forward Caleb Walker due to a lower leg injury. Walker is the team’s leading scorer with 11.9 points per game and will most likely be out for Air Force’s Boise State road game Saturday. 

The changes and adversity this season have brought the team closer, according to junior Wes Celichowski. 

“We are more together right now, we are going through adversity and just trying to stick together and just keep improving as a team,” Celichowski said. “The energy has picked up, we know what we are facing in the Mountain West and just trying to give it our all every second.” 

After creating a 38-21 lead at the half, CSU led by as many as 33 points in the second half where it finished with 10-for-24 (42%) shooting from beyond the arc, with Josh Pascarelli and Jase Butler putting up three apiece. 

It’s the second time CSU has had 10 or more 3s in Mountain West play, the first time being last week against Boise State with 14. Pascareli, Butler, and Brandon Rechsteiner each had 11 points. 

CSU will visit Colorado Springs on Feb. 10 for the last regular-season matchup between the schools before the Rams leave for the Pac-12. 

Despite not being able to contain the Rams, the Falcons have implemented a new offense to increase pace of play, and hopefully produce better shooting. Air Force shot 36% from the field and went 5 for 30 (17%) from the 3-point line. 

“Not trying to change pace of play as much as trying to get good shots,” Jordan said. “Often good shots come earlier in possession. Looking at trying to see where our first good shot is, not necessarily our good first shot. As we went through the game, we started to look at the first open shot instead of the first good shot.”

The Falcons travel to Boise State next to face the Broncos for the last time as regular-season Mountain West opponents. After breaking a two-loss streak, the Rams host conference leader Utah State at Moby Arena on at 8 p.m. Saturday.