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Kireed Johnson
Brian Kortz, FLC Athletics

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

Men’s Basketball Heads to Albuquerque for Second Straight Year to Open Season

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After coming off another strong season in which the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team recorded 24 wins and advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament, they will open the 2018-19 season this Friday and Saturday at DreamStyle Arena "The Pit" in Albuquerque against Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico.
The Skyhawks, currently receiving votes in the NABC National Poll, will play Eastern New Mexico first on Friday and then against Western New Mexico on Saturday. Both games will start at 12:30 p.m.

Picked third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, the reigning RMAC Regular Season Champions return senior Marquel Beasley who was tabbed the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Beasley was an All-RMAC Second Team selection last year in his first season with FLC. The 6-foot-5 power forward started all 31 games a season ago averaging 27.3 minutes, 14.3 points (second on the team), 6.7 rebounds (second on the team), shot 57.6 percent from the field (second on the team) and led the Skyhawks in steals (38) and blocks (42). He sent back five blocks in a game twice and added a four block game as well. He tallied three steals in a game on six different occasions and recorded six double-doubles. His top rebound game of 13 happened twice he scored over 30 points twice in a game, going for a season-high 36 points against Western Colorado University. He made 14-17 from the field in that game and 8-9 from the foul line.

Beasley finished top-three in the RMAC in several categories including third in blocked shots per game (1.35), second and 32nd nationally in field goal percentage (57.6), third and 66th nationally in total blocks (42).

Head Coach Bob Pietrack enters his fourth season leading FLC and has amassed an incredible 78-18 record guiding the Skyhawks. He's won at least 24 games in all three seasons, adding win totals of 28 and 26.

As a team, FLC led the RMAC in defensive rebounds per game (27.74), 32nd nationally, field goal percentage (49.6), 14th nationally, field goal percentage defense (42.8), 61st nationally, free throws made (601), fifth nationally, scoring margin (9.2), 34th nationally, scoring offense (85.3), 24th nationally, three point field goal defense (32.3), 24th nationally, and in total rebounds per game (37.65), 92nd nationally.

It will be a different look for the Skyhawks this season, as four of the top five scorers from a year ago were seniors and have graduated. Those four seniors (Rasmus Bach, Daniel Hernandez, DJ Miles and Brandon Wilson) all earned All-RMAC selections a season ago. Incoming junior Riley Farris played in all 31 games last year and averaged 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds. Senior Alex Semadeni also played in all 31 games and averaged 6.7 points and 3.9 rebounds, while leading the team with a 61.1 field goal percentage. Others returning that also saw time include Michael Ranson (25 games, 1.6 points), Cesar Molina (18 games, 1.3 points) and Wyatt Hayes (eight games).

Last year, Eastern New Mexico hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to pull out the 73-72 win over FLC. Bach led the team with 20 points, Beasley had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Returners Farris added nine and Semadeni chipped in five points.

The next day, FLC claimed the 75-62 win over Western New Mexico. Daniel Hernandez paced the Skyhawks with 19 points. Farris collected nine and Beasley added six points apiece.

Eastern New Mexico has yet to play a game this season after going 11-17 last year and 6-12 in the Lone Star Conference. Western New Mexico faced the University of Arizona in an exhibition contest on Oct. 30 and the Wildcats claimed a 95-44 victory. They will open the season with New Mexico Highlands on Friday before facing FLC the next day. The Mustangs went 6-21 last year and 3-15 in the Lone Star Conference.

Live stats will be available for both games.
 
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Players Mentioned

Rasmus Bach

#12 Rasmus Bach

G
6' 4"
Senior
Daniel Hernandez

#23 Daniel Hernandez

G
5' 8"
Senior
Brandon Wilson

#10 Brandon Wilson

C
6' 9"
Senior
DJ Miles

#13 DJ Miles

G
6' 4"
Senior
Marquel Beasley

#15 Marquel Beasley

PF
6' 5"
Senior
Riley Farris

#42 Riley Farris

F
6' 9"
Junior
Wyatt Hayes

#22 Wyatt Hayes

G
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Cesar Molina

#4 Cesar Molina

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Alex Semadeni

#2 Alex Semadeni

G
6' 5"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Rasmus Bach

#12 Rasmus Bach

6' 4"
Senior
G
Daniel Hernandez

#23 Daniel Hernandez

5' 8"
Senior
G
Brandon Wilson

#10 Brandon Wilson

6' 9"
Senior
C
DJ Miles

#13 DJ Miles

6' 4"
Senior
G
Marquel Beasley

#15 Marquel Beasley

6' 5"
Senior
PF
Riley Farris

#42 Riley Farris

6' 9"
Junior
F
Wyatt Hayes

#22 Wyatt Hayes

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Cesar Molina

#4 Cesar Molina

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Alex Semadeni

#2 Alex Semadeni

6' 5"
Senior
G