Box Score

GUNNISON, Colo. — Fort Lewis (5-4 overall, 3-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) ended the game on an 11-0 run to defeat Western State (3-7, 1-5) 75-65 tonight at Paul Wright Gym.

Josh Cassaday gave the Skyhawks the lead for good when his fast break layup put FLC on top 66-65 with 3:09 remaining. His three-pointer with 1:31 left gave FLC a 69-65 cushion. His two free throws with 18 seconds left iced the victory.

Cassaday finished with 10 points – seven of which came in the final 11-0 run – and was one of five FLC players to score in double figures. Matt Billups, Torrey Udall, and Marcus Ayala each had 11 points, while Matt Morris chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The back-and-forth affair saw the Mountaineers build a 10-0 lead in the first two minutes, only to see the Skyhawks go on a 14-4 run to tie the game on a Billups three-pointer 6:32 into the first half. FLC held a 38-35 lead at intermission.

Fort Lewis extended its lead to 12 on a Morris jumper in the paint that stretched the lead to a comfortable 52-40 margin with 14:40 remaining.

Western State answered with a 14-1 run to take a 55-53 lead. A Mike Matthews layup with 7:20 remaining tied the game and ended a 7:20 drought without a field goal for FLC.

Neither team would lead by more than three until Cassaday's bomb with 91 ticks left on the clock.

Fort Lewis, which shot just 16 percent from behind the arc and made just a pair of treys in last night's loss at Colorado Mesa, found its stroke from long range tonight. FLC shot 50 percent from long distance, making eight of its 16 attempts. Billups, Ayala, and Matthias Weissl each knocked down two threes.

Steven Aldridge led Western State with 17 points, while Jordan Adams added 14 and went 4-of-9 from three-point range.

Fort Lewis won't play again until Friday, Dec. 30, when they host Chadron State (2-7, 2-3) at 7:30 p.m. in Whalen Gymnasium. The Skyhawks also host Nebraska-Kearney (5-3, 3-2) at 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve.