Skyhawks Men's Basketball Game Day Notes - Jan. 19, 2015

January 23 - Skyhawks vs. Colorado Christian - 7:30 p.m.
Audio
Live Stats
Video

January 24 - Skyhawks vs. #9 Colorado Mines - 7:30 p.m.
Audio
Live Stats
Video


About the Skyhawks
Fort Lewis defeated Regis on the road Friday night, 78-70, but suffered their first loss of 2015, falling 87-51 at #17 MSU Denver to snap their six game winning streak. The loss was only their second setback on the road this season.

Saturday's loss marked season lows for the Skyhawks in margin of defeat (36), points scored (51), field goals made, attempted and percentage (13-43, 30.2 percent), three-point field goals percentage (21.1), and free throw percentage (56.8).

The Skyhawks will face their second nationally ranked opponent in as many weekends when they play host to No. 5 Colorado Mines on Jan. 24 (MSU Denver was ranked No. 17).

Fort Lewis has three players ranked in the top 30 in the league in scoring: Alex Herrera (23.1 ppg), Cade Kloster (12.5), and Rasmus Bach (11.1).

Fort Lewis has used the same five starters in all 17 games this season: Alex Herrera, Rasmus Bach, Cade Kloster, Jared Smith, and Will Morse. 

As a team the Skyhawks are shooting a solid 36.4 percent from the three-point line. Morse is shooting 47.1 percent from the three-point line, good for fourth in the RMAC, while his teammate Kloster is shooting the three ball at 41.5 percent, good for 14th in the RMAC.  

The Skyhawks are out-scoring their opponents by 6.5 points per game (sixth in the RMAC), and out-rebounding them by 3.5 rebounds per game (fourth in the RMAC). 

Center Alex Herrera is third in the RMAC for scoring, averaging 23.1 points per game. He also leads the RMAC in rebounding, averaging 10.5 per game. Herrera leads the league in blocked shots (66), and is the only player in the RMAC to average a double-double. 

About the Cougars
Colorado Christian enters the weekend tied for seventh place in the RMAC standings with a 6-5 league record (9-8 overall).  The Cougars are 2-4 on the road this season and have played their last four games at home, where they went 2-2.

CCU has the third best scoring defense in the league, holding their opponents to 67.7 points per game, just behind Saturday's opponent, Colorado Mines (65.5 points per game).

The Cougars are netting 73.3 points per game and have the seventh best scoring margin in the league (+5.6).  They lead the RMAC in free throw percentage, hitting 78.6 percent of their attempts (291-370).  They also own the second best three-point field goal percentage of 40.1 (155-387), right behind the Orediggers top mark of 41.6 percent (111-267).

Michael Brown leads the Cougars with 17.2 points per game.  Teammate Tyler Shields leads the rebounding effort with 5.6 rebounds per game.  Isaiah Hanson and Brown lead the RMAC in three-point field goal percentage.  Hanson is shooting an even 50 percent from long range (17-34), followed by Brown's 49.6 percent (56-113).  Brown's 56 made threes are the most in the RMAC.

The Series vs. Colorado Christian
Fort Lewis leads the series against the Cougars, 23-11.  The Skyhawks have won the last eight meetings between the two teams and 13 of the last 15 games.  FLC is 14-1 at home all-time against the Cougars, and have won 11 straight home games against CCU.  

About the Orediggers
One night after defeating the eighth-ranked team in the nation (UCCS), fifth-ranked Colorado School of Mines suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday at home to Colorado State-Pueblo.  The Orediggers lead the league with a 10-1 record (14-1 overall).

The Orediggers are averaging 77.3 points per game and allowing 65.5.  Their +11.8 points per game margin is the fourth best in the league.  They boast a league best in shooting with a 52.1 field goal percentage and a 41.6 three-point field goal percentage. 

Four Orediggers are averaging double digits in scoring.  Brian Muller leads the team with 14.8 points per game.  Gokul Natesan is totaling 13.8 points per game, followed by Trevor Ritchie's 13.5 and Caleb Waitsman's 12.8.  All four rank in the top 25 in the league in scoring.

Waitsman is pulling down the third most rebounds in the RMAC, averaging 8.3 per game. Muller leads the league in free throw percentage with 90.2 (55-61), and Ritchie has dished out the second most dimes in the league at 4.8 per game.

The Series vs. Colorado Mines
Fort Lewis is 50-29 all-time against the Orediggers.  The Skyhawks have won two of the last three meetings against CSM.  FLC is 22-12 in Whalen Gymnasium against CSM, and they have won the last two home games against CSM.