South Dakota Mines, Black Hills State Up Next For Men’s Basketball This Saturday and Sunday Inside Whalen

DURANGO, Colo. – The first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference home games of the season will take place this weekend for the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team as they will close the 2018 portion of the conference slate against South Dakota Mines on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and then against Black Hills State on Sunday beginning at 5:30 p.m.

FLC (5-3, 1-2 RMAC) opened the conference schedule playing three road games and haven't been home since playing Haskell Indian Nations on Nov. 21. The Skyhawks are 3-0 at home with wins against Northern New Mexico, University of the Southwest and Haskell Indian Nations. The Skyhawks claimed a 73-61 win last time out against CSU-Pueblo, with AJ Sparks coming off the bench to provide the spark with 21 points.

FLC averages 74 points and allow 72 points, making 41 percent from the field and while opponents are connecting on 44 percent. Marquel Beasley averages 17.3 points per game, making 47-91 (52) from the field, 9-19 (47) from three, along with averaging six rebounds, 12 steals and seven blocks. Riley Farris adds 12.3 points, along with 3.8 rebounds, three blocks and is shooting 48 percent (26-54) from the field. Alex Semadeni gives the Skyhawks three players in double-figures at 10.9 per game, along with seven rebounds, a team-high 30 assists, six steals and a block. Otas Iyekekpolor averages 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds, sending back a team-high 15 blocks and adds three steals. Keven Biggs is at 7.1 points per game and Sparks adds 5.8 per contest.

FLC ranks high in several RMAC and nationally categories including sixth in the RMAC and 99^th nationally in assists per game (14.8), second in the RMAC and 53^rd nationally in blocked shots per game (4.0), fifth in the RMAC in defensive rebounds per game (26), fifth in the RMAC in field goal percentage (43.7), sixth in the RMAC and 87^th nationally in free throws made (136), third in the RMAC and 95^th nationally in offensive rebounds per game (11.88), sixth in the RMAC in scoring defense (71.6), fifth in the RMAC in scoring margin (2.1), sixth in the RMAC in steals per game (6.4), second in the RMAC and 32^nd nationally in three point field goal defense (29.8), second in the RMAC and 71^st nationally in total blocks (32), sixth in the RMAC in total rebounds (303), third in the RMAC in total rebounds per game (37.88), sixth in the RMAC in total steals (51), third in the RMAC and 89^th nationally in turnover margin (2.1), third in the RMAC and 39^th nationally in turnovers forced (17) and fifth in the RMAC in win-loss percentage (62.5).

Individually, Semadeni is fourth in the RMAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0), sixth in the RMAC in assists per game (3.8), sixth in the RMAC in rebounds per game (7.0), seventh in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.25), seventh in the RMAC in total assists (30) and ninth in the RMAC in total rebounds (56). Iyekekpolor is first in the RMAC and 36^th nationally in blocked shots per game (1.88), first in the RMAC and 33^rd nationally in total blocks (15), fourth in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.63), seventh in the RMAC in rebounds per game (6.9) and tenth in the RMAC in total rebounds (55). Beasley is fifth in the RMAC in points per game (17.3), sixth in the RMAC in total points (138), seventh in the RMAC in both field goal percentage (51.6) and free throws made (35).

The Skyhawks will open the weekend against South Dakota Mines. Last year, FLC tallied the 73-68 win in Rapid City. Rasmus Bach paced FLC with 24 points, while DJ Miles and Beasley added 11 points apiece. During the last meeting in Durango in 2016-17, FLC cruised to the 98-75 victory. Since South Dakota Mines joined the RMAC back in 2015, FLC is 3-0 all-time in the series.

The Hardrockers are 3-7 overall and 1-2 in RMAC play having defeated Westminster (55-52) this past Saturday. They fell just short in their other two conference games against Dixie State (71-65) and Black Hills State (57-56). South Dakota Mines averages 62 points and allows 65 points, while making 43 percent from the field and also allowing 43 percent. Mitchell Sueker leads the team averaging 11.8 points, along with 4.3 rebounds. Logan Elers adds 10.1 points and 4.8 rebounds, while Allec Williams (9.5) and Troy Brady (8.8) are right behind in scoring.

FLC will close the weekend on Sunday against Black Hills State. The Yellow Jackets held on for the 67-64 win over the Skyhawks last year in Spearfish. Brandon Wilson led three Skyhawks in double-figures scoring 16 points. Bach added 11 and Farris with 10. During the 2016-17 season when the teams played in Durango, FLC rolled to a 66-48 victory. FLC holds a 5-1 series record against Black Hills State, with the only loss coming this past season.

Black Hills State is currently on a three-game winning streak having defeated South Dakota Mines, Westminster and Dixie State. The Yellow Jackets are 4-3 overall and 3-0 in RMAC play. They dominated Dixie State last time out taking the 91-70 victory. Black Hills State averages 69 points and allows 69 points while making 40 percent and allowing 44 percent.

Fraser Malcolm paces the team averaging 16.7 points per game, making 49 percent from the field and bringing in 5.6 rebounds. Dez Stoudamire is at 10.9 points, while Makaleb McInnis (8.9), Connor O'Hearn (8.7) and Tyler Oliver (8.1) all average at least eight points per game.

A look around the RMAC has New Mexico Highlands, Regis, Colorado School of Mines and Black Hills State all tied for first at 3-0. Colorado Mesa, Chadron State and Adams State are all tied for fifth with 2-1 records. Fort Lewis, Dixie State, Westminster, UC-Colorado Springs, MSU Denver and South Dakota Mines are all tied for eighth with 1-2 conference records. Western Colorado, Colorado Christian and CSU-Pueblo are tied for 14^th with 0-3 marks.

Live video and stats will be available for both games.

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