Box Score

PHOENIX, ARIZ. — The Academy of Art had reason to be hopeful when William Overton, Jr., threw up a last-ditch three-pointer — the Urban Knights shot just as well from outside the arc as the Fort Lewis men's basketball team had from the entire floor all night Friday.

But when the ball ended up in the hands of FLC guard Matthias Weissl instead of in the hoop as time ran out, it proved that even hitting 45 percent of their treys couldn't rescue the Knights (0-5 overall) from the board-happy Skyhawks (2-1).

In its first game of the Grand Canyon Thanksgiving Classic in Phoenix, Fort Lewis outrebounded the Academy of Art 42-25 to help them beat the Knights 78-76.

“We rebounded well,” FLC head coach Bob Hofman said. “If we didn't rebound well, it would've been a tough loss.”

Center Matt Morris led the assault on the boards with 11 total rebounds, five on offense and six on defense. Morris picked up a double-double, adding 11 points to the Skyhawk total.

Weissl finished with eight boards, and, along with Matt Billups, he led Fort Lewis in scoring as both guards had 14 points.

Overall, the Skyhawks hit 45 percent of their shots on the night and 29 percent of their three-pointers, while the Urban Knights hit 47 percent of their total shots.

Both Morris and Billups, the Skyhawks' only returning starters, got themselves in foul trouble, which affected the flow of the game and tripped FLC up, Hofman said.

“We had chances in the second half to break the game open, and we turned it over a couple times and let them back in the game,” Hofman said.

He added that the Knights shot well, while his team struggled to effectively guard against penetration. All of his players are trying to learn new positions and develop defensive identity, he said.

“We're still learning our basic principles of how we're going to play defense … We're still trying to figure out what we're going to be,” Hofman said. “Everyone is learning different roles, and we need game experience.”

The Skyhawks continue play at the Grand Canyon Thanksgiving Classic at 7:15 p.m. Saturday against the host 'Lopes (2-1).

Additional contribution to this story by Fort Lewis College Assistant Director of Athletics Chris Aaland.