By GREG MENGELT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Jake Heidbreder had another big night for Air Force, but his Falcons couldn’t hold on to a halftime lead and dropped a 69-65 decision at The Pit on Saturday.

Heidbreder, a freshman from Floyd Central, scored in double figures for the fifth straight game. He finished Saturday’s loss with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. He was 4 for 7 from the field, 2 for 5 from the 3-point line and made all six of his free throw attempts.

The Falcons led 30-24 at halftime but were outscored 45-35 in the second half. Air Force (10-17, 3-13 Mountain West), which has lost 16 of its last 17 games, was within 63-61, but junior forward Jay Allen-Tovar’s dunk with 54 seconds left was followed by clutch free throws from Jamal Mashburn Jr. that put the game away.

Mashburn was the game’s leading scorer with 24 points. The victory snapped a 3-point losing streak for the Lobos (12-17, 4-11).

Sophomore guard Joseph Octave had a team-best 18 points for the Falcons, who go to San Jose State (8-20, 1-15) on Tuesday for a 9 p.m. tip.