Box Score

PUEBLO, Colo. — Mike Melillo hit a three-pointer with less than three seconds remaining to lead Colorado Mesa (16-12 overall) to a 65-62 win over Fort Lewis in the semifinals of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout tonight at the Colorado State Fair Events Center.

The Skyhawks (16-12) had a chance to take the lead in their final full possession, but Mike Matthews missed a 10-foot jumper from the left baseline with 22 seconds left, giving the Mavs the chance to take the lead at the end.

“We played great defense on that last possession and couldn't have played better,” said 16th-year FLC head coach Bob Hofman. “And they made a great shot.”

The loss was Fort Lewis' seventh by five points or fewer. Their 77-73 overtime win at Adams State in the first round of the RMAC Shootout marked their first win in a tight game all season long.

“Every decade you might have a year like this,” said Hofman. “We had one sensational win the last second at Adams State and we had seven tough losses.”

The sixth-seeded Skyhawks built an early lead in the first half, taking a 30-19 advantage late in frame before the seventh-seeded Mavs trimmed the margin to 36-34 at the half.

“This was typical of a Mesa/Fort Lewis battle,” said Hofman. “That's what this rivalry has become. These aren't just evenly matched teams, they're evenly matched programs.”

Fort Lewis was once again led by Matt Billups and Matt Morris — a duo that combined for seven years of starting experience in a Skyhawk uniform. Billups led all scorers in the game with 20 points, including a 4-of-9 effort from long range. Morris notched his 14th double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds.

Matthews went 7-of-10 from the field to finish with 16 points.

The Mavs were led by Colton Burgon and Nate Nelson, who each scored 14 off the bench. All totaled, Colorado Mesa's reserves outscored their FLC counterparts 40-16.

The Mavs shot 55.1 percent from the field (27 of 49), but made just three treys. Fort Lewis shot just 42.1 percent from the field (24 of 57), but sank seven from behind the arc. FLC won the rebounding battle by a 31-28 margin.

The game marked the ends of the collegiate careers of Billups, Morris, Josh Cassaday, and Louie LaBate.

“We know what it takes to work hard and win championships,” said Morris. “We were part of that group that took Hofman further in the (NCAA) regionals than ever before. To be part of that concrete and tradition is something special.”

The Mavs, who have knocked off two higher seeds in four days, face league regular season champion and No. 2-ranked Colorado Mines at 3 p.m. tomorrow in the RMAC Shootout championship. The Orediggers defeated Nebraska-Kearney 82-62 earlier today.