December 12, 2009.  Durango, CO. -  There is only so much a team can do when you allow them to have three players score twenty plus points. This was certainly the case last night when the Fort Lewis Men's Basketball Team took out the Chadron State Eagles 89-71 in the RMAC showdown. Chadron State fell to 3-6 overall and 1-2 in the RMAC. Fort Lewis improved to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in the RMAC.

The Skyhawks went up 3-0 in the first twenty seconds on a Daniel Steffensen but for the next 15 minutes, both teams would stay neck and neck. Around the 11:38 mark, the Hawks' would go up 18-10 on two Matt Morris free throws but the Eagles would rally and go on a 10-1 run of their own to take the lead (20-19). Coach Hofman decided to have his three guard trio, which consists of DeAndre Lansdowne, Matt Billups and David Kanyinda. The trio would force a few turnovers, come up with a few steals, a hammer slam by Lansdowne and a last second 3-pointer by Billups to charge the Hawks' with a 35-26 advantage going into the break.

Fort Lewis shot 40% from the field while Chadron shot 47% despite going 0-6 from three. Fort Lewis went 4-9 from beyond the arc in the first half. Matt Morris led the Hawks' with 11 first half points and 6 rebounds. Donte Archie led the Eagles with 12 points at the break.

The second half belonged to the Skyhawks, although the Eagles would fight until the end, it didn't prove to be enough to stop Morris, Steffensen and Lansdowne. DeAndre hit a jumper and a 3-pointer along with a Steffensen three which gave the Skyhawks the biggest lead to that point at 46-35. The Fort Lewis lead would fluctuate between six and eight points throughout most the second half. 

“We made some key shots that we needed to make in order to keep our distance a little bit," Hofman said. “Because they were making the coaching staff very nervous." Those key shots turned into an 18 point second half performance by Steffensen and a 14 point second half performance from both Morris and Lansdowne. When the clock hit zero, the Skyhawks proved to be too much and walked off the court with the 89-71 victory.

Fort Lewis would shoot 64% from the field in the second half which would result in an impressive 51 % on the game. The Skyhawks went 10-19 from three (52%). Chadron State finished the game shooting 52% from the field but only 27% (3-11) from beyond the arc. Morris led all scorers with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists followed by Lansdowne who ended the night with 22. Steffensen chipped in 21 points after going 5-9 from three and 4 assists. Kanyinda added 9 points and 3 steals and Billups added 6 points and a team high 5 assists.

Donte Archie led the Eagles with 23 points on 13-14 from the line.

The Skyhawks will take on the Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney (6-3 overall, 2-1 RMAC) who defeated Adams State last night 86-76. The Men's game is set to tip off at 8pm. 

The 2009 Men's Soccer National Champions will be honored at tonight's game at halftime.