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Keven Biggs
Max DeHerrera/Sports Fanatic Photography

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

Riding Two-Game Win Streak, Men’s Basketball Hits The Road to Face Rangers, Cougars

DENVER/LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College men's basketball team picked up two big wins to conclude the homestand this past weekend. With the wins, the Skyhawks sit just a game back of eighth in the conference standings. The Skyhawks will now being a four-game road swing this weekend facing Regis on Friday and then Colorado Christian on Saturday with both games starting at 7 p.m.

FLC enters the weekend at 9-8 overall and 4-7 in RMAC play, after defeating both Western Colorado (72-63) and Colorado Mesa (79-76). Last time out against the Mavericks, five Skyhawks scored in double-figures with AJ Sparks and Will Wittman tallying 14 points apiece. Alex Semadeni and Marquel Beasley added 12 points apiece and Brenden Boatwright added 10 points, including a key block on a three-pointer late in the game.

Upcoming or recently eclipsed milestones include Semadeni went over 700 career points this past weekend and is currently at 715. He recently went over 250 career field goals and is at 265. His rebounding numbers are closing in on 400, currently at 397. Semadeni is approaching 150 career assists, currently at 138 and is closing in on 75 steals, currently at 68. His 28 blocked shots are tied for 22nd in program history. Beasley moved past the 700-scoring plateau at FLC and is on his way to 750, currently sitting at 741. He's quickly approaching 300 made field goals, right now at 272. His 175 free throws are just three away from putting him in the top-30th in program history. Beasley also jumped over 300 rebounds over the past few weeks and sits at 304. 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 59 steals. Otas Iyekekpolor sent back his 24th block of the season against Colorado Mesa which currently puts him in a tie for 23rd in program history. He's also closing in on 200 points, sitting at 170. Sparks went over 100 points in his first season at FLC after scoring 25 this past weekend leaves him at 122. Keven Biggs is the next one closest to posting 100 points, entering the weekend with 91. Head Coach Bob Pietrack is 11 wins away from 100 in his career, currently sitting at 89-26.

This season, FLC is averaging 78 points per game and allowing 76 points, while making 43 percent from the field and allowing 45 percent. Beasley and Semadeni have started all 17 games this season with Beasley leading the team in points at 17.6 per game and adds 5.7 rebounds. He also has 20 assists, 21 steals, 11 blocks and is shooting 51 percent from the field. Semadeni is second on the team in scoring at 12.7 per game, while grabbing 6.3 rebounds, dishing out 58 assists, tallying 20 steals and three blocks. He's also connected on 18 three-pointers. Iyekekpolor has started 13 games this season and remains one of the top shot blockers in the conference with 24. He averages 10.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 13 assists, 11 steals and is shooting 52 percent from three. The big man has also shown his range this year drilling seven three-pointers. Sparks adds 8.1 points per game, Biggs is at 5.4, Boatwright tallied 5.1 and Wittman is at 4.9.

FLC ranks in the top-five in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and in the top-100 nationally in several categories including fifth in the RMAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.07), fifth in the RMAC in assists per game (14.5), first in the RMAC and 13th nationally in free throws made (321), fifth in offensive rebounds per game (10.24), fourth in steals per game (7.1), second in the RMAC and 57th nationally in three point field goal defense (32.5), fifth in the RMAC in total rebounds (600), fourth in the RMAC in total steals (121), second in the RMAC and 54th nationally in turnover margin (2.6),  and second in the RMAC and 49th nationally in turnovers forced (16.06).

Individually, Semadeni is ranked in multiple categories including third in the RMAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.87), fourth in the RMAC in minutes per game (33:55), eighth in the RMAC in assists per game (3.4), free throws made (60) and in total assists (58). Iyekekpolor is third in the RMAC and 67th nationally in blocked shots per game (1.41), third in the RMAC and 66th nationally it total blocks (24). Beasley is fourth in the RMAC in total field goals made (106), sixth in the RMAC in total points (299), seventh in the RMAC in free throws made and 88th nationally (72), seventh in the RMAC in points per game (17.6), eighth in the RMAC in field goal percentage (51).

First up, FLC will face Regis on Friday as the Rangers are 11-6 overall and 8-3 in RMAC play. They hold a 7-3 mark at home and split at home this past weekend edging Black Hills State (77-76) and falling to Westminster (74-77). Regis averages 78 points and allows 72 points, making 46 percent from the field and allowing 45 percent. Jarrett Brodbeck leads the way at 18.1 points, followed by 16.2 points per game from Christian Little. Brian Dawson adds 9.4 and Ryan Beisty is at 8.5 per game.

The two teams met three times last year with FLC winning both regular season games, first in Durango, 89-79 and then a few weeks later in overtime in Denver, 85-83. The teams then played for the RMAC Tournament title in Durango and the Rangers took the title with an 88-80 victory. In that matchup, DJ Miles went for 20 points, Beasley added 17, Brandon Wilson with 16 and Rasmus Back with 14.

To close the week, FLC will face Colorado Christian on Saturday. In the only meeting last year, the Skyhawks rolled to an 88-62 win at home against the Cougars. Five scored in double-figures led by 16 points apiece from Miles and Wilson. Beasley chipped in 15 and both Bach and Semadeni added 12 points apiece. The last win for the Cougars in the series came during the 2015-16 season when Colorado Christian took the 80-73 win in Lakewood. FLC has won the past three meetings.

Colorado Christian is 4-13 overall and 2-9 in RMAC play, holding a 2-7 mark at home. They split this past weekend, falling to Dixie State (48-84), before coming back strong with an 86-77 win over Westminster. The Cougars average 71 points and allow 81 points, making 46 percent from the field and allow 51 percent. Four average in double-figures led by Jeremiah Hanson's 13.8 points per game. Braxton Tucker tallies 12.6, Justin Engesser is at 11.9 and Stefan Hackethal is at 10.0 per game.

A look around the RMAC has Colorado School of Mines along in first place with an 11-0 record. UC-Colorado Springs has moved into second with a 9-2 mark. New Mexico Highlands and Regis are tied for third with 8-3 records. Colorado Mesa and Chadron State are tied for fifth with 7-4 records. Black Hills State is alone in seventh with a 6-5 record. Dixie State, MSU Denver and Adams State are tied for eighth with 5-6 records. Fort Lewis, Westminster and South Dakota Mines are all tied for 11th with 4-7 records. CSU-Pueblo is alone in 14th with a 3-8 record, Colorado Christian is in 15th with a 2-9 record and rounding out the teams in 16th is Western Colorado with an 0-11 record.

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

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
Keven Biggs

#3 Keven Biggs

G
6' 4"
Junior
Will Wittman

#10 Will Wittman

F
6' 5"
Sophomore
Otas Iyekekpolor

#13 Otas Iyekekpolor

F
6' 8"
Senior
AJ Sparks

#24 AJ Sparks

G
5' 10"
Junior

Players Mentioned

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
Keven Biggs

#3 Keven Biggs

6' 4"
Junior
G
Will Wittman

#10 Will Wittman

6' 5"
Sophomore
F
Otas Iyekekpolor

#13 Otas Iyekekpolor

6' 8"
Senior
F
AJ Sparks

#24 AJ Sparks

5' 10"
Junior
G