Box Score

SILVER CITY, N.M. — Fort Lewis College head men's basketball coach Bob Hofman has often said the two-day swing through the Land of Enchantment is the toughest road trip in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Tonight's 63-59 loss at Western New Mexico — which came on the heels of last night's 96-94 heartbreaking defeat at New Mexico Highlands — only proves his point.

Since the Mustangs rejoined the RMAC in 2006-07, Fort Lewis is 1-5 on Drag's Court, only winning a 90-87 game in overtime on Jan. 21, 2010.

Fort Lewis (7-6 overall, 5-4 in the RMAC) was seemingly in control most of the game, leading by an even dozen at halftime (33-21) and by as many as 14 at various points in the game. With 10 minutes left, the Skyhawks still owned an 11-point edge at 45-34.

A personal foul and technical foul on Josh Cassaday with 9:59 remaining sent WNMU to the line for four free throws. Chad Carter and T.J. Riley each made two free throws to trim the margin to seven. After a Mike Matthews offensive foul gave WNMU the ball back, Juan Sanchez scored a layup with 9:14 remaining to cut the lead to five at 45-40. From that point on, momentum had clearly swung in the Mustangs' favor.

Carter tied the score at 48-48 by making two more free throws with 6:51 remaining and WNMU took the lead for good at 51-50 when he knocked down a three-pointer a minute later.

After WNMU led by as many as eight points in the closing minutes, FLC clawed back into the game and cut the lead to 61-59 on a Matthews trey with two seconds remaining. Ryan Clane iced the victory for the Mustangs by hitting a pair of free throws, though, to end any chances of a Skyhawk comeback.

The loss overshadowed another brilliant performance by FLC senior center Matt Morris, who notched his sixth straight double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds. The RMAC's rebounding leader raised his season rebounding average to 10.8 per game. He also led the Skyhawks with three assists.

Cassaday, who had a career-high three blocked shots, and Matthews each scored eight in a losing effort.

Riley finished with a game-high 23 points, while Carter chipped in 14 for the Mustangs (5-9, 5-5 RMAC).

Free throws proved to be FLC's undoing. The Skyhawks went to the line just eight times, making five. Western New Mexico went 13-of-22 from the charity stripe, a sub-par 59.1 percent shooting effort that belied their ability to make key free throws during their comeback and down the stretch.

The Skyhawks return to the friendly confines of Whalen Gymnasium — where they own a perfect 5-0 mark in 2011-12 — for a pair of 7:30 games next weekend. FLC hosts Colorado Christian (2-11, 1-8) on Friday and RMAC front-runner and No. 12 Colorado Mines (12-1, 8-1) next Saturday.