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Brendan Boatwright
Durango Family Photography

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

Men’s Basketball Remains on the Road to Face Cowboys and ThunderWolves

LAS VEGAS, N.M./PUEBLO, Colo. – The road trip to start the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference will continue for the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team when they will play at New Mexico Highlands on Friday starting at 7 p.m. and then against CSU-Pueblo on Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m.

It was a back-and-forth battle this past Saturday when FLC (4-2, 0-1 RMAC) opened the RMAC slate at Adams State with the Grizzlies claiming the 68-60 overtime victory. Marquel Beasley paced the Skyhawks with 17 points, followed by 13 from Riley Farris, 11 from Alex Semadeni and 10 from Keven Biggs. Beasley, Semadeni and Biggs all grabbed seven rebounds apiece, while Beasley added a pair of steals.

The Skyhawks held a two-point lead with just seconds remaining when a pair of late free throws by the Grizzlies sent the game into overtime where Adams State eventually claimed the victory.

FLC averages 74.7 points per game and allows 68 points. They make 42 percent from the field and opponents connect on 42 percent. The Skyhawks have hit 40 three-pointers, making roughly 30 percent, while opponents have made just 25 and hold a 22 percent clip.

Beasley leads the team in scoring averaging 19.8 points per game, he makes 52 percent (42-81) from the field and adds a 47 percent effort (8-17) from three. He adds 7.2 rebounds, 10 assists, 11 steals and six blocks. Riley Farris chips in 13.2 points per game, making 24-51 (47) from the field. He adds 4.4 rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Semadeni is also in double-figures in scoring at 10.8 points per game, along with a team-best 27 assists, 7.3 rebounds, four steals and a block. Otas Iyekekpolor adds 9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and has sent back 12 blocks to lead the team. Biggs adds 8.2 points off the bench, making 10 three-pointers.

FLC ranks in the top-five in the RMAC and nationally in several categories including third in the RMAC and 75th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.22), second in the RMAC and 50th nationally in assists per game (16.5), fourth in the RMAC and 49th nationally in blocked shots per game (4.2), fifth in the RMAC and 79th nationally in defensive rebounds per game (27.50), fifth in the RMAC in field goal percentage defense (42.2), fourth in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (11.83), fourth in the RMAC and 53rd nationally in scoring defense (68), fourth in the RMAC and 95th nationally in scoring margin (6.7), first nationally in three point field goal defense (22.3), fourth in the RMAC in total assists (99), second in the RMAC and 97th nationally in total blocks (25), second in the RMAC and 71st nationally in total rebounds per game (39.33), third in the RMAC and 52nd nationally in turnover margin (3.2), second in the RMAC and 49th nationally in turnovers forced (16.67), fifth in the RMAC in turnovers per game (13.5), third in the RMAC and 90th nationally in win-loss percentage (66.7).

Individually, Semadeni ranks second in the RMAC and 58th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.70), second in the RMAC and 94th nationally in assists per game (4.5), eighth in the RMAC in defensive rebounds per game (5.17), third in the RMAC and 67th nationally in minutes per game (35:23), fifth in the RMAC in rebounds per game (7.3) and fourth in the RMAC in total assists (27). Iyekekpolor is first in the RMAC and 28th nationally in blocked shots per game (2.0), fifth in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.67), eighth in the RMAC in rebounds per game (7.2) and first in the RMAC and 41st nationally in total blocks (12). Beasley is 10th in the RMAC in field goal percentage (51.9), fifth in the RMAC in free throws made (27), seventh in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.50), fifth in the RMAC and 75th nationally in points per game (19.8), eighth in the RMAC in rebounds per game (7.2), seventh in the RMAC in steals per game (1.83), fourth in the RMAC in total points (119) and seventh in the RMAC in total steals (11).

FLC will face a red-hot New Mexico Highlands team first on Friday night that has won five-straight. Following an opening season loss to Western New Mexico, the Cowboys have since defeated Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico, University of the Southwest, Northern New Mexico and opened RMAC play with a five-point win over CSU-Pueblo at home this past weekend. NMHU enters this week ranked eighth in the latest D2SIDA South Central Regional Poll. NMHU averages 89 points per game and allows 79 points, they make 47 percent from the field and allow 44 percent.

Gerard Davis leads the team averaging 21.2 points per game, along with six rebounds, nine steals, 13 assists and two blocks. He makes 55 percent from the field. Raquan Mitchell adds 15 points per game and 5.2 rebounds, along with 11 steals. Jordan Jones chips in 13.8 points and Nnamdi Okoro is the fourth Cowboy in double-figures at 11.3 per game.

FLC swept both meetings last year, winning the first in Las Vegas, 91-79 and then in the rematch in Durango, 80-72. In the meeting in Las Vegas, Farris had a big game pouring in 31 points, Daniel Hernandez added 23 points. The Skyhawks couldn't miss from the field making 59 percent and 58 percent from three. They also took advantage at the foul line going 22-26 (85). In the rematch in Durango, DJ Miles led four Skyhawks in double-figures with 23 points, Hernandez added 17. It was another strong shooting night from the field as FLC made 51 percent.

The Skyhawks have owned the series with New Mexico Highlands, having won the previous 11 meetings in the series. The last win for the Cowboys came in Las Vegas during the 2011-12 season when they claimed the 96-94 victory.

FLC will close the trip with a Saturday night matchup with CSU-Pueblo. The ThunderWolves are off to a 2-5 start and have lost three straight. They opened the season with a win against Arkansas-Fort Smith and after falling to Rogers State and Midwestern State, they defeated Wayland Baptist before dropping the past three games against West Texas A&M, Lubbock Christian and New Mexico Highlands.

The ThunderWolves average 77 points and allow 87 points, they make 47 percent from the field and allow a 49 percent clip. Donovan Oldham leads the team averaging 14.9 points, along with 4.6 rebounds. Jason Anderson adds 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds and Cade Carrol chips in 11 points and 5.1 rebounds.

Last year, the Skyhawks swept the season series winning in Pueblo in the first meeting, 85-69 and then later rolling to a 95-61 win in Durango. The meeting in Pueblo, five players scored in double-figures with Beasley leading the way with 16 points and eight rebounds. Miles added 15 points and both Hernandez and Brandon Wilson added 14 apiece. Five more scored in double-figures during the second meeting as Hernandez paced the Skyhawks with 19 points, Miles with 18 and Farris with 16. FLC made 60 percent (35-58) from the field. FLC has won the past five meetings in the series with the last CSU-Pueblo win coming in 2015 when they won in Pueblo, 72-63.

Live video and stats will be available for both games.
 
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Players Mentioned

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
Alex Semadeni

#2 Alex Semadeni

G
6' 5"
Senior
Keven Biggs

#3 Keven Biggs

G
6' 4"
Junior
Otas Iyekekpolor

#13 Otas Iyekekpolor

F
6' 8"
Senior

Players Mentioned

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
Alex Semadeni

#2 Alex Semadeni

6' 5"
Senior
G
Keven Biggs

#3 Keven Biggs

6' 4"
Junior
G
Otas Iyekekpolor

#13 Otas Iyekekpolor

6' 8"
Senior
F