AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - If the Air Force Falcons hit the books the way they did the nets, they should ace their finals next week. The 24th-ranked Falcons made 15 3-pointers Wednesday night in a 70-47 rout of Norfolk State, their last game until Dec. 23.

Air Force guard Tim Anderson, right, passes the ball in the first half while being guarded by Norfolk State guard Kevin Worsley in NCAA basketball action in Colorado Springs, Colo, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006. (AP Photo/Will Powers)

"It's going to be pretty tough," Matt McCraw said of the break for final exams. "It was great to get a victory tonight to kind of help that out. Go up there, kind of get your mind off basketball a little bit and get your mind on academics. But it's definitely going to be a tough stretch for the team."

Which is what made the latest win so satisfying, said Jacob Burtschi, who led the Falcons (11-1) with 14 points.

"I like the way we came out tonight. We really weren't looking forward to finals. I think a couple of times in the past we have. The game before was just real sluggish," Burtschi said. "We took care of business. Everything is aside. All we've got to do is make it through these next five, six days for finals.

"Then, it's smooth sailing the rest of the year because nothing will be too bad after this."

In the only other game involving a ranked team Wednesday, No. 7 Wisconsin routed Wisconsin-Milwaukee 68-49.

Air Force's 11 wins are tied with No. 15 Oklahoma State for the most in the nation.

The Falcons' sharp-shooting included a 3-pointer from John Frye, a 6-foot-10 senior center who had attempted just one 3-pointer before coach Jeff Bzdelik's arrival at the academy last year. He made 19 last season and has two this year, including the Falcons' most memorable one Wednesday night.

"I was laughing one time because as you can see, we're not very good running the fast breaks," Bzdelik said. "But one time when we pushed the ball, we were able to quickly get in our offense and John Frye hit a 3. And I said to my staff, 'Now, that's a Falcon fast break.'"

The Falcons celebrated their return to the Top 25 by going 15-of-29 on 3s.

"It's rare that you see a whole five — not even five, however many players they have — that can shoot the 3 like that," said Tony Murphy, who led Norfolk State (1-5) with 15 points.

Seven Falcons connected from beyond the arc, where Air Force actually shot better (52 percent) than it did from inside (50 percent).

"That's the best shooting team I've ever seen," Spartans center Calvin Brown said.

And for good reason — Bzdelik begins every practice with a barrage of 3s, a half hour's worth, followed by shorter-range jumpers.

"Sometimes we put music on. I love Motown. They've got accustomed to that. And we just shoot 3s to that. In a variety of ways," Bzdelik said. "That's a major weapon of ours. It's just a major part of the offense, being able to space the court, and that allows backdoor cuts and opportunities to drive, and good opportunities to post up.

"And they're very unselfish. Threes have to be manufactured through unselfishness. We had 24 assists today on 26 baskets."