Written by Dale Strode:
January 20th, 2009. Durango, CO. - The numbers all added up for the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team.
When freshman Torrey Udall hit a free throw with 16.9 seconds to play, the Skyhawks hit the century mark and rewarded their faithful fans with a 100-77 victory over Adams State on Tuesday night at Whalen Gymnasium.
The most important number for FLC was one, as in one big Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win.
The one win came courtesy of a blistering 67 percent shooting effort from the field in the first half when Fort Lewis outscored the stunned Grizzlies 63-35.
Three Skyhawks scored in double figures - in the first half.
Four Skyhawks finished in double figures. And 10 different Skyhawks scored in the victory, which improved the FLC men to 7-1 in the RMAC, 13-3 overall, an undefeated home record of 7-0 and a winning streak of 5.
“Really good effort (Tuesday night)," Fort Lewis head coach Bob Hofman said.
“I thought Kyle Behrens bounced back and really played well. He rebounded very well for us," Hofman said of the FLC junior, who had five rebounds in the first half. He finished with a team-high seven rebounds.
“He came back … strong," Hofman said after Behrens finished Tuesday with 16 points on 8 of 10 shooting from the field. Behrens' versatile numbers included three steals and three assists.
“And somebody else who doesn't get a lot of credit played well. Matt Morris, who does all the dirty work, he played well (Tuesday night)," Hofman said.
Morris, on 3 of 6 shooting, added seven points for the Skyhawks and three rebounds.
DeAndre Lansdowne of Fort Lewis led all scorers with 21 points. His numbers included 7 of 8 from the field, 2 of 3 from 3-point range and 5 of 6 from the foul line.
David Kanyinda, in just 18 minutes, scored 20 points, including three 3-pointers.
“He's really been important for us off the bench," Hofman said. “I don't know what his … numbers are, but he's been scoring about a point a minute."
Kanyinda, who is averaging 15.1 points in 18.5 minutes per game, had 15 points in the first half.
Lansdowne, who leads the team with 20.9 points per game, had 17 in the first half.
Freshman Matthias Weissl, off the bench, hit four 3-pointers for Fort Lewis and finished with a season-high 13 points.
“It was nice to see Matthias get some shots (in a game) because he's a really good shooter," Hofman said. “It was good for those freshmen to get game minutes like that."
Udall, who finished with five points, played extended minutes alongside Weissl. The two were high school teammates at Roaring Fork High School in Carbondale.
Bryse Velasquez, an FLC freshman from Colorado Springs, added six points off the bench.
The Skyhawks were blistering in the first half on 24 of 36 shooting for their biggest halftime lead of the season.
Nick Fox led Adams State with 16 points. Robby Hanzlik, the son of the former Denver Nuggets player and current broadcaster, added 10 points, as did teammates Xavier Lewis and Seth Neinbaugh as the Grizzlies fell to 1-7 RMAC, 4-12 overall.
“I told the guys we have a really short turnaround," Hofman said. “We have to turn right around and leave (today) for Silver City to play a team that hasn't lost at home all year."
FLC will take on Western New Mexico at 8 p.m. Thursday in the RMAC road game.
“That's a long drive, especially with a … storm," Hofman said.
Box Score
dstrode@durangoherald.com
