Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. — Matt Billups — a point guard known more for his passing than his shooting — exploded from three-point range to propel Fort Lewis (14-3 overall, 10-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) to a 76-56 win over Regis (5-12, 2-11) tonight at Whalen Gymnasium.

The junior from Los Lunas, N.M., buried his first four treys and finished five-of-six from three-point land to lead the Skyhawks with 15 points. He added four assists.

Not to be outdone, reserve shooting guard David Kanyinda went four-of-seven from behind the arc to finish with 14 points. Junior center Matt Morris added 11 points while pulling down a team-high seven caroms.

Regis' Chris Johansen led all scorers with 18 points. Lance Korell was the only other Ranger to hit double figures with 10.

In a game that lacked the excitement and emotion of last night's first-place battle with Metro State (which FLC lost 85-78 after being tied at 70 in the final two minutes), it was Billups who ignited the Skyhawks. His 12 first-half points allowed FLC to carry a 36-30 lead into the locker room. An 11-1 run in the first three-and-a-half minutes of the second stanza stretched the lead to 16 and effectively ended any remaining drama.

Metro State's two-game lead atop the RMAC standings lasted just one night. The Roadrunners (14-3, 11-2) lost 59-54 at Adams State tonight. The game put Fort Lewis, Colorado Mines and Adams State just a game behind with identical 10-3 league records.

The Skyhawks travel to Alamosa for an 8 p.m. showdown next Saturday with Adams State (13-3, 10-3) in Plachy Hall. Fort Lewis beat the Grizzlies 85-76 on Dec. 11 in Durango. The game is the only one on FLC's schedule next week.