DURANGO, Colo. – March 5, 2016 – Junior point guard
Joshua Blaylock hit two free throws with :00.7 seconds left in regulation to lead the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team to a 73-72 win over Colorado School of Mines Saturday night at Whalen Gymnasium in the 2016 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship Tournament Game.
Tonight's tournament title is the Skyhawks fourth in program history (2011, 2008, 2002). The Skyhawks last championship title win came in 2011 in a win over Colorado School of Mines.
Rasmus Bach,
Cade Kloster and
Joshua Blaylock were named to the all-tournament team. Blaylock was named the 2016 RMAC Men's Basketball Tournament MVP.
With 1:34 left in regulation, Blaylock hit a three-pointer to give FLC a two point lead, 71-69. CSM's Kean Korkmaz made one of two free throws with 24 ticks left on the clock to cut FLC's lead down to one, 71-70. The Orediggers regained the lead with nine seconds remaining when Caleb Waitsman made two from the charity stripe.
On the next possession, Blaylock drove the lane and drew a foul with :00.7 seconds in the game. He sank both free throws for the win.
Saturday's win improves the Skyhawks to 27-3 on the year and a perfect 17-0 win at home to go with their 15-game winning streak.
Blaylock led both teams with 25 points. He netted 9-of-14 field goals, 4-of-7 three-point field goals and all three free throw attempts. He also pulled down five rebounds and dished out two assists.
Cade Kloster and
Jared Smith each scored 13 points. Smith made 5-of-6 from the floor and all three three-point field goal attempts.
Rasmus Bach came off the bench to score 11 points and grab four rebounds.
Austin Haldorson led the Skyhawks with eight rebounds. He and
Kody Salcido each blocked two shots.
In three tournament games this week, Blaylock average 22.7 points per game and shot 63.2 percent from the floor and 57.9 percent from long range. Kloster netted 15.0 points per game and made a team high 13 free throws. Bach averaged 12.7 points per game and made all 11 free throw attempts to go with his 14 rebounds, three assists and three steals.
The Skyhawks will await the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Selection Show which will be aired at 8:30 p.m. (MST) on
www.ncaa.com.
