LAS VEGAS, NM - February 9, 2008 - The nationally ranked #20 Fort Lewis College men's basketball team defeated the hosting New Mexico Highlands Cowboys 69-55 Saturday night in their 18th victory of the season. The Skyhawks improve to 13-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and 18-2 overall, while the Cowboys fall to 1-14 in the RMAC and 1-22 overall.

For the second time this season the Skyhawks defeated the Cowboys as they rebounded from two nights prior in a surprising loss to Western New Mexico. The Skyhawks scored 33 first-half points and led by only four at the half. They shot just 33.3% from the floor, but connected on all three of their free throw attempts. They led by as many as eight in the first half, but the Cowboys 4-0 run to close the period brought them back within striking distance.

The first 11 minutes of the second half the Skyhawks took control of the battle for good. They went on a 19-6 run to pull away a 17-point lead (52-35). Fort Lewis would push the lead to 22 at the 5:35 mark, their largest of the game. Highlands closed the game on an 8-3 run to shorten the lead to 14.

The Skyhawks shot 39.4 % from the floor and 34.8% from beyond the arch, but they connected on 9-of-11 free throws. The difference in the game is told in the points off turnovers. The Skyhawks had an amazing 23 points off of 24 Cowboy turnovers, while the Cowboys scored just four points off of nine Skyhawk turnovers.

Devon Manning (Kirtland, NM/Kirtland) led the Skyhawks with 15 points and added four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Ryan Johnson (Aurora, CO/Eaglecrest) scored 14 points to lead the Skyhawk guards. He also grabbed a team-high six rebounds and dished out one assist. Trent Bowman (Durango, CO/Durango) scored 11 points and grabbed six boards, while Tim Crowell (Long Beach, CA/Cincinnati) added 10 point and seven assists.

The Skyhawks return home for three of their last four games this season. On Friday and Saturday the Skyhawks host Adams State and CSU-Pueblo at 8:00 p.m., while the travel to Mesa State on Tuesday the 19th and host Western State on Saturday the 23rd. 

Box Score