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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Akuel Kot 11.30
Peyton Rutkowski
FLC freshman Akuel Kot was one of four players in double-figures during Saturday's win (File Photo).
59
Park (AZ) Park 0-1
97
Winner Fort Lewis FLC 6-0,0-0 RMAC
Park (AZ) Park
0-1
59
Final
97
Fort Lewis FLC
6-0,0-0 RMAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Park (AZ) Park 23 36 59
Fort Lewis FLC 55 42 97

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Skyhawks improve to 6-0, set program record for November wins

DURANGO, Colorado — For the first time in 42 years, the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team will wake up Sunday morning with a spotless 6-0 record; tying the fast start of the 1977 Skyhawks' team that finished 21-8 overall.

In addition to tying some school history, the 2019 team also made some of its own following Saturday's 97-59 drubbing of Park University Gilbert (AZ.) as the six wins are the most in the month of November in program history.

"We had a full week of practice, can't undervalue what a week of practice means when you have no school, so we were able to clean a lot of stuff up," said Fort Lewis head coach, Bob Pietrack. "I'm proud of our non-conference slate and being able to win the six games at home. We're proud of our team and where we're at. We also know the journey up Mount Everest (RMAC schedule) starts Monday."

Fort Lewis (6-0 overall) had four players finish in double-figures Saturday, led again by redshirt junior forward Riley Farris as the Skyhawks starting center poured in 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting.

The Skyhawks' fed the big man early and often as Farris drew three quick fouls through the game's first 10 minutes on the Buccaneers' Tyson Berringer, their 6'10 starting power forward, while tallying 16 of his 23 points in the opening half.

"The plan was to go at him (Berringer) early, so I think we did a good job with that and then everything else fell into place after that," said Farris, who has scored 21 or more points in all six games so far this season while shooting 61 percent from the field.

Freshman guard Akuel Kot completed FLC's 1-2 punch in the first half as he scored all 10 of his points through the first 20 minutes to help FLC to a 55-23 lead at the break.

Defensively, the Skyhawks limited Park University was limited to 27% shooting (9-of-33) in the first half, including just 3-of-15 (20%) from beyond the 3-point line, responding to Pietrack's challenge in practice to come out with a defensive mindset.

"We really tried to get better, defensively, this week in practice. You can guard in practice and you get better, but it has to translate to a game," Pietrack said. "We're not a great defensive team right now, we have a lot of room to grow there, but we're putting an emphasis on trying to be the best defensive team we can be. Where that turns out, we'll see."

Joining Kot and Farris in double-figures Saturday for the Skyhawks were freshman guard Junior Garbrah with 17 points and sophomore forward Brendan La Rose with 11 points. Redshirt sophomore forward Brenden Boatwright paced all players with a game-high 12 rebounds.

The 17 points set an early career-high for Garbrah, who did the bulk of his damage with 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc.

"With Junior, there is no more talk of 'Hey, he stepped up and did a nice job.' He's a good player and those are the minutes he's going to play the rest of the year," Pietrack said. "He's already had really good moments as a freshman. In the Eastern New Mexico game he had a huge impact and one of the main reasons we won the game, and then again tonight. He's shooting the ball well and playing with confidence."

As for La Rose, his 11 points and 21 minutes were each career highs for the Peyton, Colorado native to go with four rebounds and four assists.

"La Rose is blooming and that's the best way to put it," Pietrack said. "He's a guy who didn't get to play a lot last year because he was behind Marquel Beasley, an All-Conference player. He's getting the minutes now and you can see that he's taking advantage of it. He's playing with confidence, playing with passion, he has a good motor going for him right now and that's what we need from him. That will be the standard from him moving forward."

Up next for the Skyhawks will be their RMAC opener at 7:30 p.m. Friday at home against New Mexico Highlands University, the reigning RMAC Tournament champions.

The Cowboys were on campus earlier this season when they competed in the Conference Challenge event hosted by FLC. They come to Durango with a 5-0 record and poise a tough first leg of a 22-game gauntlet through the RMAC schedule.

"We know how good they are, know how good the two guards are that they have; they're excellent. They're role players are also playing good and they're an undefeated team," Pietrack said of New Mexico Highlands. "This is why you play college basketball; to play in big games. Lot of respect for Highlands and looking forward to the challenge, and I'm sure they are too. It's why you play."
 
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