DURANGO, Colo. – January 9, 2015 – Leading by only four points with 33 ticks left in regulation, the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team held off New Mexico Highlands University Friday night for an 83-76 win at Whalen Gymnasium. The win was the Skyhawks fourth straight as they improve to 11-3 overall and 6-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Cade Kloster, Austin Halderson and
Will Morse combined to make 5-of-6 free throws in the final 32 seconds to hold off the Cowboys for the seven point win.
The Skyhawks, who led for nearly 38 minutes, netted 32-of-40 free throws (80 percent), nearly double the Cowboys free throw line production (16-of-22).
Alex Herrera led both teams with 27 points and five blocked shots before fouling out of the game. He pulled down a team high eight rebounds. Thirteen of Herrera's 27 points came from the charity stripe where he only missed on two attempts.
Kloster netted three three-point field goals as part of his 17 points.
Rasmus Bach made all eight free throw attempts and 3-of-9 field goals for 15 points. Haldorson finished with nine points, five rebounds and two assists.
DJ Robinson came off the bench to record his first career points as he knocked down a three-point field goal.
Kendrick Nichols led the Cowboys with 24 points. Charles George added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Fort Lewis was out-scored by the Cowboys in the paint (34-24), off of turnovers (9-7), second chance points (19-7), fast break points (18-7) and the bench (24-15).
The Skyhawks will play host to Western New Mexico University Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
