Written by Dale Strode:

January 17th, 2010.  Durango, CO. - Coach Bob Hofman might not want to keep this tape. But he'll take the win, no doubt.

“We gutted the game out … a gut-check game for sure. Not pretty, but we'll take it," Hofman said after the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team came from behind in the second half to beat Colorado School of Mines 79-69 on Saturday night at Whalen Gymnasium.

“They are so tough to play against," Hofman said. “I'm grateful we were able to stay with them."

Hofman referenced a frustrating 15-minute stretch in the first half when the Skyhawks struggled to protect what had been an early 20-4 lead.

Mines, with a big and powerful front line and an early rebounding edge, responded with a 27-9 run against the Skyhawks to take a 31-29 halftime lead.

Sean Armstrong of the Orediggers, who would finish with a game-high 30 points, opened the second half with two free throws and consecutive 3-pointers as Mines extended its lead to 39-30.

But the Skyhawks answered with a familiar response when David Kanyinda drilled a 3-point jump shot from the corner after taking a pass from Daniel Steffensen. DeAndre Lansdowne jumped in with a driving layup and two foul shots. Then Steffensen hit a long 3-pointer from the right side.

With play turning rough and whistles echoing across the floor, the Skyhawks scrambled back to tie on three Kanyinda free throws, then took the lead for good when Matt Morris scored on the inside from Steffensen, who ended with a game-high eight assists for FLC.

“I don't need to score that much when David (Kanyinda) is shooting the way he's shooting and DeAndre (Lansdowne) playing the way he's playing," said Steffensen, a junior from Rio Rancho, N.M. “When they're playing like that, it's easy for me to get the assists."

Kanyinda, who hit eight 3-pointers in a win over Colorado Christian on Friday night, led FLC with 25 points Saturday. He was 5 of 8 from 3. Lansdowne finished with 21, Morris tallied 13 and Billups rounded it off with 11. Steffensen dished out a game high 8 assists.

“We really wanted these wins to make a statement this weekend," Steffensen said.

Box Score

dstrode@durangoherald.com