DENVER, CO - December 7, 2007 - The Fort Lewis College men's basketball team defeated Metro State 77-68 tonight in Denver in their RMAC season opener. The Skyhawks improve to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), while the Roadrunners fall to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in the RMAC.

Despite leading for nearly the entire first half, the Skyhawks fell victims to an 8-0 Roadrunner run to close the first half. Metro led by six (31-25) at the break.

Metro came out hot from the locker room and managed to open a 14-point lead with 13:38 left in the second half. The Skyhawks then started cutting the lead point-by-point. Just over four minutes later, the Skyhawks tied the game at 47, concluding an 18-4 run. The Skyhawks took the lead for good with 1:54 remaining in regulation and closed the game on a 14-4 run.

Ryan Jameson (Durango, CO/Durango) led the Skyhawks with 15 points on 4-of-10 from the field (3-of-6 from beyond the arch) and a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. He added two steals on the night.

Devon Manning (Kirtland, NM/Kirtland) and Ryan Johnson (Aurora, CO/Eaglecrest) both scored 14 points in the win, while Manning added seven rebounds, two assists and one steal. Ryan Yates (Arvada, CO/Arvada West) also grabbed seven boards, while freshman Kyle Behrens (Highlands Ranch, CO/Mountain Vista) had his first double-figure game as a Skyhawks with 10 points on 4-of-8 from the field.

The biggest different in the game came with points off turnovers where the Skyhawks held a 27-12 advantage. The Skyhawks were out-rebounded 41 to 30, but caused 23 Roadrunner turnovers.

Fort Lewis returns to action tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. against Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado. The game can be heard on KIUP 930 AM or online at www.radiodurango.com.

Box Score