The Long Island basketball team took down Air Force in Colorado Springs on Tuesday, 76-72. The Sharks were paid to pull off that victory.
Unfortunately, nobody could watch the road team’s impressive performance. The television stream was down amid the US Government shutdown.
Each team is in the early stages of their 2025 campaigns. The Sharks entered a 1-1 fresh off a win over IU Indy. The Falcons were seeking their first victory following an 0-2 start.
Fans of both sides had hoped to have eyes on the college basketball matchup. Those that did not attend the game in person were stripped of that opportunity.
Government shutdown impacts Air Force basketball.
The Sharks made the 1,700-mile trip to Colorado for the Veteran’s Day contest. They controlled the game largely from start to finish.
Air Force jumped out to a 20-9 lead across the first 10 minutes of play. From there, it was all Long Island.
The Sharks went on a 61-35 run over the next 27 minutes. They held a 70-55 lead with 2:43 left to play before the Falcons closed the gap with a late surge.
Air Force’s comeback effort came up just short. Long Island left with a four-point win. Only 1,089 people in Clune Arena got to witness.
Chat is this real pic.twitter.com/CIPfmX2i6b
— Tanner McGrath (@tannerstruth) November 11, 2025
The TV stream was unavailable due to the recent government shutdown. Funding disagreements sparked the decision which went official at 11:59 pm on September 30th. It’s now impacting Air Force sports fans.
If you weren’t at the game, you didn’t see it. A radio broadcast did air for those looking to follow along with the action.
While it was an inconvenience, that impact is far less than what was seen with the 2018 shutdown when the men’s and women’s teams were forced to cancel games during the season.
“All Air Force Academy home and away intercollegiate athletic events will be held as scheduled during the government shutdown. Funding for these events, along with travel/logistical support will be provided by the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC). Updates to the GoAirForceFalcons.com website will be significantly reduced and delayed. There will be no video streaming of home athletic events.”
-Air Force Academy statement
Air Force lost the game. Fans were unable to watch. A paycheck only added insult to injury.
Long Island was paid to beat the Falcons.
Air Force loses a buy game to LIU.
The epitome of brutality.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) November 12, 2025
This was a buy game for the Falcons. They paid the Sharks to make the trip to Colorado. Specific details of the agreement are unclear.
It’s something that’s unfortunately become a trend in the Mountain West Conference this year. Multiple members have paid opponents to come into their home arenas and hand out Ls.
Boise State lost to DII Hawaii Pacific in its season opener. Two days later, Fresno State fell to USC Upstate after paying the Spartans $100,000.
The Falcons are the latest MWC squad to drop a buy game. Maybe it’s a good thing no one was watching.
The post Long Island Basketball Got Paid To Beat Air Force In Colorado And Nobody Watched Amid Gov’t Shutdown appeared first on BroBible.
Long Island Basketball Got Paid To Beat Air Force In Colorado And Nobody Watched Amid Gov’t Shutdown
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