Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. — Fort Lewis (18-6 overall, 14-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) responded from a tough loss last night and an underwhelming first half tonight to defeat Colorado Christian (7-17, 6-14) 67-53 in Whalen Gymnasium.

On a night that started on an emotional high — all-time scoring leader DeAndre Lansdowne was honored in a pregame ceremony along with fellow Skyhawk seniors Kyle Behrens, Connor Drumm, Tayler Faust, David Kanyinda and Daniel Steffensen and all of their parents — Fort Lewis came out surprisingly flat.

Colorado Christian, in contrast, looked nothing like the team that was humbled on its home court last month by Fort Lewis in a 99-60 Skyhawk win. The Cougars came out firing on all cylinders, shooting, rebounding and defending in a first half that saw them lead most of the way. CCU built a seven-point lead and led 29-27 at intermission. Abram Ziemer and Josh McBeth provided much of the hustle, combining for 15 first half rebounds; Nick Gill sank three treys in the first frame to account for much of CCU's offense.

Fort Lewis head coach Bob Hofman must've lit a fire under his squad at halftime, as the second half Skyhawks looked nothing like the bunch that opened the game.

Kanyinda hit a three-point bomb just 55 seconds into the second stanza to give Fort Lewis a 30-29 lead — one that they would never surrender.

Lansdowne, coming off the bench for the first time since his sophomore season in order to give the other five seniors the chance to start, notched his first double-double of the year (and just the third of his career) with 19 poitns and 10 rebounds.

Kanyinda, the nation's third-ranked three-point shooter, sank three treys to finish with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Cougars were led by McBeth's 13-point, 13-rebound effort. Gill finished with 12 points and five steals, while Chris Oneal scored 10 and Ziemer pulled down 13 caroms.

Fort Lewis was without the services of its usual starting center, Matt Morris, who missed the game due to a hand injury.

Although mathematically still alive to tie for a share of the league regular season championship, the Skyhawks are mired in the middle of the pack of seven teams that have already clinched spots in the RMAC Shootout, which begins Tuesday, March 1 on the home courts of the four top seeds.

No. 20 Colorado Mines (20-4, 16-4) has a slim lead over Metro State (19-6, 16-5) atop the RMAC standings. Five others are right on their heels: New Mexico Highlands (19-6, 15-6), Fort Lewis (18-6, 14-6), Adams State (18-6, 14-6), Mesa State (17-7, 13-7) and Western New Mexico (13-15, 13-8). Nebraska-Kearney (12-13, 10-11) is assured of the No. 8 seed in the league playoffs.

Although the Skyhawks are currently ranked No. 3 in the NCAA Division II Central Region, their quest for a seventh NCAA tournament bid and home court advantage in the RMAC Shootout may very well depend on a successful road trip next weekend.

Fort Lewis travels to Western State (7-18, 6-14) at 8 p.m. Friday and Mesa State at 7 p.m. Saturday.