Skyhawks Men's Basketball Game Day Notes - Feb. 24, 2015

February 27 - Skyhawks at Western State - 5:30 p.m.
Live Stats
Video

February 28 - Skyhawks at Colorado Mesa - 5:30 p.m.
Audio
Live Stats
Video

About the Skyhawks
One week after suffering their first back-to-back home losses in a weekend since the 1998-98 season, the Skyhawks bounced back to defeat the ninth-ranked team in the nation - MSU Denver, followed by a win over Regis University.  Friday's home win marked the second time this season Fort Lewis has upset a top 10 team.  The Skyhawks defeated No. 9 Colorado Mines 83-77 at home on Jan. 23.
 
As a team the Skyhawks are shooting a solid 35.9 percent from the three-point line. Will Morse is shooting 44.2 percent from the three-point line, while his teammates Cade Kloster is shooting the three ball at 45.7 percent and Jared Smith at a 37.9 percent clip.
 
The Skyhawks are out-scoring their opponents by 5.2 points per game (seventh 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 23.7 points per game. He also leads the RMAC in rebounding, averaging 11.6 per game. Herrera leads the league in blocked shots (89), and is the only player in the RMAC to average a double-double.
 
Herrera ranks in the top 10 in NCAA Division II in free throw attempts (first, 308), free throws made (second, 207),  total blocks (first, 89), blocked shots per game (first, 3.42), double-doubles (second, 20), defensive rebounds per game (sixth, 8.5), total rebounds (sixth, 302), total points (third, 617), and rebounds per game (seventh, 11.6).
 
Along with Herrera's NCAA-leading 308 free throw attempts and 89 blocked shots, he also leads the conference in blocked shots per game, defensive rebounds per game, double-doubles, rebounds per game and total rebounds.
 
About the Mountaineers
Western State is tied for 12th place in the league standings with a 3-17 record (4-20).  They are on a two-game losing streak and have lost 11 of their past 12 games.  The Mountaineers are 11th in the league in scoring (68.6 points per game) and 11th in the league in scoring margin (-11.1).
 
Mason Biddle and Danny Hopkins rank in the top 25 in the league in scoring.  Biddle is averaging 17.5 points (seventh) and Hopkins is averaging 12.4 points per game (23rd).  Hopkins is also 18th in rebounding with 4.8 per game.  Biddle is passing out the fifth most assists in the league with 4.7 per game, and he is seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio with 1.8.
 
All-Time Series vs. Western State
The Skyhawks are 71-37 all-time against Western State.  FLC defeated the Mountaineers in their first meeting of the season on Dec. 21, 92-81.  FLC enters Friday's game on a three game winning streak and have defeated the Mountaineers in 12 of their last 13 meetings.  FLC is 22-20 all-time at Western State.  The last time the Skyhawks were in Paul Wright Gym (Dec. 21, 2013), they made a school record 21 three-point field goals.
 
About the Mavericks
The Mavericks enter the weekend tied for fifth place with the Skyhawks in the conference standings.  Colorado Mesa is 9-2 at home this season and 7-2 at home in RMAC games.  They are currently on a five game winning streak.
 
CMU is sixth in the league in scoring margin, netting 77.6 points per game and allowing 69.6 points per game (+8.0).  They are second overall in free throw percentage with a 75.1 percent mark and second in three-point field goal percentage 40.6 percent.
 
Ryan Stephan is second in the league in scoring (25.4 points per game) and second in rebounding (8.3 rebounds per game).  Guard Derek Biale has dished out the second most assists (5.0 per game), and he leads the league in assist/turnover ratio (3.1).
 
All-Time Series vs. CMU
Colorado Mesa holds a 56-35 series advantage over the Skyhawks, including a 94-88 win over FLC on Dec. 20 at Whalen Gymnasium.  The last time the Skyhawks defeated CMU on their home court was March 2, 2013 (W, 69-59).  Fort Lewis is 9-36 against the Mavericks when playing at CMU.