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Wyatt Hayes
Max DeHerrera/Sports Fanatic Photography

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

Men’s Basketball Set to Welcome Western Colorado, Colorado Mesa to The Whalen

DURANGO, Colo. – The homestand continues for the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team as they will welcome in Western Colorado on Friday and Colorado Mesa on Saturday with both games starting at 7:30 p.m. inside Whalen Gym.

This is the start of the schedule where the Skyhawks will be playing each of the teams twice down the stretch. FLC will face Colorado Mesa and Western Colorado again on the road Feb. 22-23.

This past weekend was a tough one for FLC (7-8, 2-7 RMAC) as the Skyhawks couldn't hold off a late charge by UC-Colorado Springs on Friday, falling just short (99-100). The next night, FLC battled back in the second half before Colorado School of Mines pulled away for the 92-79 win. In the game against the Orediggers, Marquel Beasley went for 25 points and just missed a double-double with eight rebounds. Otas Iyekekpolor added 13 points, Alex Semadeni was approaching a double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds and Will Wittman gave the Skyhawks four in double-figure with 10. In the high-scoring game with the Mountain Lions, Brenden Boatwright went for a career-high 22 points on 12-12 free throw shooting, Semadeni added 19, Beasley with 14 and Iyekekpolor with 10.  

Upcoming or recently eclipsed milestones include Semadeni who is closing in on 700 career points, currently at 693. He recently went over 250 career field goals and is at 257. His rebounding numbers are closing in on 400, currently at 384. Semadeni is approaching 150 career assists, currently at 131 and is closing in on 75 steals, currently at 64. His 28 blocked shots are tied for 22nd in program history. Beasley moved past the 700-scoring plateau at FLC this past weekend and is currently at 707. He's quickly approaching 300 made field goals, right now at 260. His 167 free throws are just 11 away from putting him 30th in program history. Beasley's eight rebounds against the Orediggers put him at 300 for his career. He also recently eclipsed 50 blocks and 50 steals, right now at 53 blocks (putting him in a tie for seventh in program history) and 58 steals. Iyekekpolor sent back his 23rd block of the season against Colorado School of Mines which currently puts him in a tie for 25th in program history. Head Coach Bob Pietrack is 13 wins away from 100 in his career, currently sitting at 87-26.

FLC ranks in the top-five in the RMAC and in the top-100 nationally in several categories including fifth in the RMAC in assists per game (14.3), fifth in the RMAC and 100th nationally in blocked shots per game (3.4), first in the RMAC and seventh nationally in free throws made (293), sitting just 28 behind the national leader, fifth in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (10.67), fourth in the RMAC in steals per game (7.1), second in the RMAC and 66th nationally in three-point field goal defense (32.6), fourth in the RMAC and 90th nationally in total blocks (51), fifth in the RMAC in total rebounds (536), fifth in the RMAC in total steals (106), second in the RMAC and 57th nationally in turnover margin (2.8), second in the RMAC and 49th nationally in turnovers forced (16.33),  and fifth in the RMAC in turnovers per game (13.5).

Individually, Semadeni is third in the RMAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.89), fifth in the RMAC in minutes per game (33:26), seventh in the RMAC in assists per game (3.4), total assists (51), eighth in the RMAC in free throws made (57) and 10th in the RMAC in total rebounds (94). Iyekekpolor is first in the RMAC and 41st nationally in total blocks (23) and is second in the RMAC and 56th nationally in blocked shots per game (1.53). Beasley is fourth in the RMAC in total field goals made (94), fifth in the RMAC in total points (265), sixth in the RMAC and 74th nationally in free throws made (64), seventh in the RMAC in points per game (17.7) and ninth in the RMAC in field goal percentage (51.6).

First up will be a matchup with Western Colorado on Friday. Last year, FLC took both meetings, with the first being an overtime win in Durango, 93-92. In the rematch in Gunnison, the Skyhawks claimed the 76-69 victory. During the first meeting, FLC had five players reach double-figures led by Daniel Hernandez's 21 points, Rasmus Bach added 19, Beasley with 16, Brandon Wilson with 13 and Semadeni with 10. During the rematch in Gunnison, DJ Miles led the way with 19 points, followed by 18 from Bach. The teams almost met a third time in the RMAC Tournament, as behind a big first half, FLC rolled to the 88-73 victory. Beasley poured in 36 points to lead the way, making 14-17 from the field. The Skyhawks have won the last seven meetings in the series with the last win for Western Colorado coming back in 2015 when they picked up the 89-85 win in Gunnison.

The Mountaineers are 3-12 overall and 0-9 in RMAC play this season, having lost nine straight since a win over Graceland (89-63), back on Nov. 24. Western Colorado pulled off one of the early upsets of the season when they took down then No. 4 West Texas A&M, 77-72, back on Nov. 9. They have gone 0-4 in true road contests this season, after falling on the road this past weekend to CSU-Pueblo (61-86) and New Mexico Highlands (83-94). The Mountaineers average 78 points and allow 85 points, making 44 percent from the field and allowing a 49 percent clip. Four players average in double-figures, led by 18.7 per game from Quincy Harding. Brady Subart adds 13.4 points and Cole Sienknecht is at 12.0. Jaire Roberts is fourth on the team in scoring at 11.5, but missed the past two games.

To close the weekend, FLC will face Colorado Mesa on Saturday. The Skyhawks swept both meeting last year, winning the first meeting in Durango, 96-80 and then taking an overtime win in Grand Junction, 94-89. During the first meeting, Miles went for 24 points, followed by 22 from Bach and 21 from Hernandez. In the overtime win, Bach scored 23 points, while Hernandez added 19 and Semadeni chipped in 17. FLC has won the last four meetings in the series with the last Mavericks win coming in 2016 in Grand Junction, 75-72.

Colorado Mesa is 11-4 overall on the season and 6-3 in RMAC play, currently they have a 3-3 record away from home in true road contests. The Mavericks picked up a pair of strong non-conference wins against then ranked No. 21 Dallas Baptist (91-80) and Texas A&M-Commerce (102-83). This past weekend, Colorado Mesa fell to New Mexico Highlands (82-94) and then picked up a 98-91 win over CSU-Pueblo, both on the road. The Mavericks average 86 points and allow 80 points, making 53 percent from the field and allowing a 46 percent clip. Connor Nichols has been one of the top players in the conference all season, leading the way with 23.6 points per game. Tommy Nuno adds 12.9 points and Damon Dubots is at 12.2 points per game.

A look around the RMAC has Colorado School of Mines alone in first place with a 9-0 record. New Mexico Highlands, Regis and UC-Colorado Springs are tied for second at 7-2. Colorado Mesa and Black Hills State are tied for fifth at 6-3. Chadron State is seventh with a 5-4 mark. MSU Denver, Westminster, South Dakota Mines and Adams State are all tied for eighth with 4-5 records. Dixie State and SU-Pueblo are tied for 12th with 3-6 records. Fort Lewis is 14th with a 2-7 record, Colorado Christian is 15th with a 1-8 record and Western Colorado is in 16th with an 0-9 mark.

Live video and 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
Brenden Boatwright

#33 Brenden Boatwright

F/C
6' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
Alex Semadeni

#2 Alex Semadeni

G
6' 5"
Senior
Will Wittman

#10 Will Wittman

F
6' 5"
Sophomore
Otas Iyekekpolor

#13 Otas Iyekekpolor

F
6' 8"
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
Brenden Boatwright

#33 Brenden Boatwright

6' 9"
Redshirt Freshman
F/C
Alex Semadeni

#2 Alex Semadeni

6' 5"
Senior
G
Will Wittman

#10 Will Wittman

6' 5"
Sophomore
F
Otas Iyekekpolor

#13 Otas Iyekekpolor

6' 8"
Senior
F