Box Score

DURANGO, Colo. — Matt Billups exploded for 24 points on Senior Night to lead Fort Lewis (14-11 overall, 2-9 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) to a 61-49 win over Western State (12-13, 10-11) tonight in Whalen Gymnasium, securing FLC's 11th straight berth in the RMAC Shootout in the process.

Billups, a senior guard and three-year starter for the Skyhawks, went 9-of-18 from the field and 4-of-9 from behind the arc while adding three assists, three steals, and three rebounds.

Josh Cassaday, a senior forward who has been part of FLC's roster the past two years, added 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from long range.

The Skyhawks led from wire to wire and held Western State to just two points in the first two points in the game's first 10:46, jumping out to a 16-2 lead.

The Mountaineers were dismal from the field (37.8 percent, 17 of 45) all night long, particularly in the first half, when they made just seven of 22 shots (31.8 percent).

Fort Lewis was just hot enough to keep its home crowd active, making eight of 22 three-pointers (36.4 percent) and registering three dunks — two by 6-foot guard Mike Matthews and one by Cassaday.

Matthews finished with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.

Senior center Matt Morris — the only player in the conference to average a double-double during the season — was relatively quiet with seven points and four rebounds. The Mountaineers pounded on Morris in the post, limiting him to a 1-of-9 night from the field.

Morris moved into fifth place on the Skyhawks' career rebounding list with 650 career caroms, passing FLC Hall of Famer Steve Schutz (1992-96, 647).

Guard Louie LaBate made his first career start on Senior Night and saw 11 minutes of action.

The Mountaineers were led by George Berling, who was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and made both of his three-pointers in finishing with 11 points.

Western State outrebounded the Skyhawks by a 36-28 clip.

The Skyhawks are in a four-team logjam in fourth through seventh place in the league standings with one night remaining in the regular season. Nebraska-Kearney (15-10, 13-8) has a one-game lead over Colorado Mesa (14-11, 12-9), FLC, and Chadron State (12-13, 12-9).

Fort Lewis hosts Colorado Mesa at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night in the final home game for seniors Billups, Cassaday, LaBate, and Morris.

The RMAC Shootout begins Tuesday night, with first-round matchups to be determined following the completion of the regular season tomorrow.