Skyhawks Men's Basketball Game Day Notes - Dec. 15, 2014

December 20 - Home vs. Colorado Mesa - 7:30 p.m.
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December 21 - Home vs. Western State - 5 p.m.
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About the Skyhawks
Fort Lewis has used the same five starters in all nine games this season: Alex Herrera, Rasmus Bach, Cade Kloster, Jared Smith and Will Morse.

Bach (53.3), Morse (48.4), Smith (46.4) and Kloster (41.7) are all shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range.

The Skyhawks are out-scoring their opponents by 9.1 points per game, and out-rebounding them by 5.2 rebounds per game.

Fort Lewis set season highs against the Grizzlies Saturday afternoon in 3-point field goals made (15), 3-point field goal percentage (60 percent, 15-25), and they tied a season high eight steals.

Adams State had won the three previous matchups with the Skyhawk in Whalen Gymnasium before Saturday's 87-73 FLC win.

Junior Cade Kloster netted a career high 20 points against ASU.  Eighteen of his points came from long range (6-of-9).  Redshirt-freshman Rasmus Bach went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe against ASU.

Kloster is second in the league in assist/turnover ration (2.5) and seventh in the league in 3-point field goals made (20).  Transfer Austin Holdorson ranks sixth in the league in field goal percentage with 84.2 percent, having missed only three free throws on 19 attempts. Morse has dished out the 10th most assists in the RMAC (3.7) and ranks third in 3-point field goal percentage (48.4%).

Senior center Alex Herrera ranks in the top 10 in NCAA Division II in free throw attempts (first, 104), double-doubles (second, 7), total blocks (second, 32), free throws made (third, 74), blocked shots per game (fourth, 3.6), defensive rebounds per game (eighth, 8.00), total rebounds (10th, 94), and rebounds per game (10th, 10.0).

Along with Herrera's NCAA-leading 104 free throw attempts, he also leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game, double-doubles, total blocks, blocked shots per game, rebounds per game, and total rebounds.

Herrera has been named the RMAC Player of the Week this season three times (Defensive-Nov. 17, Offensive. 24, Defensive-Dec. 1).  In four years at FLC, Herrera has earned the RMAC Player of the Week award 12 times.

The Skyhawks hit the century mark in three consecutive wins against Texas-Permian Basin (101-97), Northern New Mexico (105-92) and Eastern New Mexico (104-72).  FLC has scored at least 100 points in three straight games two other times in program history: 1995-96 and 1990-91.

Herrera became the all-time blocked shots leader at Fort Lewis on Friday, Nov. 14 against St. Mary's.  Herrera broke Rich Hillyer's career block record of 208.

Fort Lewis started the 2014-15 season winning their first five games.  The last time the Skyhawks started their season 5-0 was 2012-13.  Fort Lewis has also started their season 5-0 in 2010-11 and 2009-10, including a 6-0 start in 1997-78 under head coach Chuck Walker.

The Skyhawks men's team earned 133 points and are picked fourth in the RMAC preseason poll.  For the second year in a row, Alex Herrera has been tabbed the RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.  

About the Mavericks
The Mavericks enter Saturday's game on a three game winning streak and have won seven of their last eight games.  

Junior center Ryan Stephan leads the RMAC in scoring with 24.0 points per game.  He ranks fourth in field goal percentage (61.4%), fifth in rebounding (7.5 rebounds per game), and seventh in blocked shots (1.1 per game).  He also shoots the long ball, netting 14-of-31 attempts for 45.2 percent).

Jerry Duckworth is the Mavericks sharp shooter from long range, hitting 46.3 percent from behind the arc (31-67).

The Series vs. CMU
CMU leads the all-time series against Fort Lewis, holding a 55-35 advantage.  The Skyhawks are 24-18 against the Mavericks in Whalen Gymnasium.  Fort Lewis has won three of the last four meetings with CMU.  Both teams split last season, each winning one game on their home court.

About the Mountaineers
Western State is coming off their first RMAC win of the season after they defeated Western New Mexico Saturday night.  The win snapped a five game losing streak.  Three Mountaineers are averaging double digits: Mason Biddle (17.8), Devin Kastrup (12.7), and Danny Hopkins (11.9).

WSCU is being out-scored 6.5 points per game and out-rebounded by 4.4 per game.

Mason Biddle is one of 10 players in the RMAC averaging over 15 points per game.  Through nine games, he is averaging 17.8.  CJ Schutt leads the league in field goal percentage, hitting 28-of-40 field goals for 70%.

The Series vs. WSCU
Fort Lewis is 70-37 all-time against Western State.  Fort Lewis has notched a 34-8 series record against the Mountaineers in Whalen Gymnasium.  The Skyhawks are on a two game winning streak against WSCU, and have won 11 of the last 12 meetings.