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Will Wittman
Max DeHerrera/Sports Fanatic Photography

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

Four Reach Double-Figures as Men’s Basketball Fights to the End at Rangers

Box Score DENVER, Colo. – After fighting back to take a five-point lead near the midway point of the second half, the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team looked to be in good shape. Regis responded on their home floor outscoring the Skyhawks by 13 over the remainder of the game to take the 78-70 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory over FLC Friday night.

Otas Iyekekpolor led FLC (9-9, 4-8 RMAC) with 17 points, Will Wittman added 16, Kireed Johnson went for 12 and Alex Semadeni tallied 11. Johnson led the team in rebounds with seven and assists with four. The Skyhawks played a majority of the game without Marquel Beasley, as he was in foul trouble and was limited to two points and five rebounds in 15 minutes before fouling out.

FLC shot well in the second half making 14-29 (48) from the field and 6-12 (50) from three. Regis (12-6, 9-3 RMAC) used a solid 17-21 shooting at the foul line to make their push. The Rangers also used a strong 49-30 edge on the boards, including 19-7 on the offensive glass.

After Regis split a pair of free throws to open the scoring, Semadeni tallied the first basket of the game at the 18:21 mark to give the Skyhawks a 2-1 lead. Regis responded with a 5-0 run and held the lead until a pair of free throws by AJ Sparks lifted FLC back out to a 9-8 lead near the midway point of the half.

Over the next two minutes, Regis went on a 9-0 run to open a 17-9 lead. After stretching the lead out to nine, the Skyhawks fought back to pull to within two at the three-minute mark on a three-pointer by Wittman. The Rangers outscored FLC by three the remainder of the half to take a 34-29 lead into halftime.

Down by seven early in the second half, Beasley helped the Skyhawks start their push with a layup a minute in. Iyekekpolor then hit a three-pointer and a layup before a Johnson long ball at the 15:13 mark tied the game at 41.

Iyekekpolor gave the Skyhawks the lead back on the next trip down with a layup and after Wittman drilled a corner three, FLC moved out to a 46-41 lead with 14:11 to play in the game.

Iyekekpolor hit two from the line and then a jumper from Semadeni kept the lead at four. An 8-0 run for Regis followed to give the Rangers a 54-50 lead with nine minutes to play.

The Skyhawks didn't go away with Iyekekpolor answering with a three-point-play to get back to within three at 58-55 at the 7:49 mark. Just when it looked like the Skyhawks were set to turn the corner, Regis came back with a 10-0 run to jump out to a 68-55 lead. With just over three minutes to play, FLC wasn't able to pull any closer than seven a couple of times, first on an Iyekekpolor three and with 39 seconds to play on free throws by Semadeni before the Rangers claimed the win.

FLC ended up going 24-56 (43) from the field, 11-25 (44) from three and 11-16 (69) from the foul line.

Toni Rocak led Regis with 17 points and 13 rebounds in 22 minutes. Christian Little tallied 14 points, Roberto Vercellino added 13 points and Brian Dawson rounded out the four in double-figures with 12. The Rangers went 26-63 (41) from the field, 6-19 (32) from three and 20-29 (69) at the foul line.  

FLC will remain on the road tomorrow (Saturday) night when they will face Colorado Christian starting at 5 p.m. Adams State held on to defeat the Cougars 73-63 earlier on Friday night.
 
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Players Mentioned

Marquel Beasley

#15 Marquel Beasley

PF
6' 5"
Senior
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
Kireed Johnson

#12 Kireed Johnson

G
6' 0"
Junior
AJ Sparks

#24 AJ Sparks

G
5' 10"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Marquel Beasley

#15 Marquel Beasley

6' 5"
Senior
PF
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
Kireed Johnson

#12 Kireed Johnson

6' 0"
Junior
G
AJ Sparks

#24 AJ Sparks

5' 10"
Junior
G