Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Will Wittman
Durango Family Photography

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

RMAC Action Returns This Weekend on the Road for Men’s Basketball at Roadrunners, Eagles

DENVER, Colo./CHADRON, Neb. – Having already logged a game since the holiday break ended, the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team will now get set to return to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play this weekend as they will play at MSU Denver on Friday and then at Chadron State on Saturday. Both games will start at 7:30 p.m.

FLC (6-5, 1-4 RMAC) put up a season-high 100 points in their second win this season over Northern New Mexico (100-72) on New Year's Eve. Marquel Beasley went for a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Keven Biggs added 17 points and AJ Sparks chipped in 11. The Skyhawks had 11 players scored at least four points in the game. The Skyhawks also made a season-high 37 field goals, 13 three-pointers and shot 61 percent (37-61) from the field.
As a team this season, FLC averages 75 points and allows 72 points, making 42 percent from the field and allowing 44 percent. Beasley leads the way at 17.3 points, along with 6.0 rebounds, 16 assists, 15 steals and nine blocks in starting all 11 games. He's shooting 53 percent (67-127) from the field and 12-26 (46) from three. Beasley's reached double-figures in scoring in all but one game this season, going for over 20 points on three occasions, with a high of 28 against Southwest (N.M.). Alex Semadeni adds 10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 39 assists, 10 blocks and three steals in starting all 11 games. He put together a big game right before the break scoring a season-high 21 points against Black Hills State. Otas Iyekekpolor is averaging 8.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and has sent back 20 blocks. He's shooting 50 percent (34-68) from the field. Sparks adds eight points and Biggs is at seven points.

FLC ranks high in the RMAC and nationally in several categories including fifth in the RMAC in assists per game (14.7), third in the RMAC and 58th nationally in blocked shots per game (3.8), second in the RMAC and 82nd nationally in free throws made (184), fifth in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (10.73), fifth in the RMAC in scoring defense (71.9), second in the RMAC and 22nd nationally in three point field goal defense (29.9), third in the RMAC and 78th nationally in total blocks (42), fifth in the RMAC in total rebounds (399), fifth in the RMAC in total steals (74), second in the RMAC and 59th nationally in turnover margin (2.8), second in the RMAC and 38th nationally in turnovers forced (17.09).

Individually, Semadeni is third in the RMAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.77) and eighth in the RMAC in both assists per game (3.5) and total assists (39). Iyekekpolor is first in the RMAC and 36th nationally in blocked shots per game (1.82), first in the RMAC and 32nd nationally in total blocks (20) and seventh in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.27). Beasley is fourth in the RMAC in total field goals made (67), fifth in the RMAC in total points (190), sixth in the RMAC in points per game (17.3) and seventh in the RMAC in both field goal percentage (52.8) and free throws made (44).

Bob Pietrack is approaching 100 career victories, as he enters this weekend with a record of 86-23.

Last year against MSU Denver, the Skyhawks picked up a 94-88 win at home on Jan. 5. Daniel Hernandez led the way with 24 points, while Rasmus Bach added 21 points and Beasley with 13. FLC connected on a 60 percent effort (32-53) from the field. During the 2016-17 season which was the last meeting between the teams in Denver, the Roadrunners collected an 80-65 victory. Joshua Blaylock led the Skyhawks with 21 points, with Bach adding 15.

MSU Denver is 5-4 overall and 3-2 in RMAC play, holding a 4-2 record at home. The Roadrunners have won four straight against Colorado Christian, Colorado Mesa, Western Colorado and most recently on Dec. 19 against Northwest Nazarene. As a team, MSU Denver averages 74.7 points and allows 74.7 points, while making 46 percent from the field and allowing a 45 percent clip from opponents. Druce Asah leads the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game. Garrett Carter and Kendall McIntosh average 12.1 points per game.

To close the trip, FLC will play at Chadron State on Saturday. The Skyhawks swept the Eagles last year taking the first meeting in Durango, 88-65, and then collected the second matchup in Chadron, 96-69. In the first meeting, Collin Weaver led five Skyhawks in double-figures with 15 points. Bach and Beasley added 12 points apiece. FLC led by as many as 28 in the game. During the second meeting in Chadron, FLC had a lead as high as 31 points and shot 62 percent from the field and 45 percent from three. Beasley led the way with 15 points, while Hernandez and Brandon Wilson added 14 points apiece. The Skyhawks have won the last 14 meetings in the series with the last win for Chadron State coming in Chadron during the 2006 season in which the Eagles picked up the 85-75 victory.

So far this season, Chadron State is 5-6 overall and 3-2 in RMAC play, posting a 4-2 mark at home. During the last homestand they defeated Western Colorado, 77-58, but fell to Colorado Mesa, 79-69. On the season, Chadron State averages 69 points and allows 70 points, while making 43 percent from the field and allowing the opposition a 43 percent effort. Three players average in double-figures in scoring led by 14.2 points per game from Michael Sparks. Colby Jackson adds 10.8 and Diontae Champion adds 10.1 per contest.

Live video and stats will be available for both games.  
 
Print Friendly Version

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
Collin Weaver

#11 Collin Weaver

PG
6' 3"
Junior
Marquel Beasley

#15 Marquel Beasley

PF
6' 5"
Senior
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
AJ Sparks

#24 AJ Sparks

G
5' 10"
Junior

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
Collin Weaver

#11 Collin Weaver

6' 3"
Junior
PG
Marquel Beasley

#15 Marquel Beasley

6' 5"
Senior
PF
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
AJ Sparks

#24 AJ Sparks

5' 10"
Junior
G