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Wyatt Hayes
Max DeHerrera/Sports Fanatic Photography

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

Men’s Basketball Makes Trip up North to Face Mavericks, Mountaineers

GRAND JUNCTION/GUNNISON, Colo. – The final road swing of the regular season arrives for the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team this weekend when they play at Colorado Mesa on Friday and Western Colorado on Saturday. Both games are set to start at 7:30 p.m.
 
FLC enters the week at 11-14 overall and 6-13 in RMAC play after splitting this past weekend defeating Westminster (74-67) and falling just short against Dixie State (50-63). Last time out against Dixie State, Marquel Beasley led the way with 20 points, while Brenden Boatwright added eight.
 
The Skyhawks just faced both Western Colorado and Colorado Mesa as FLC won both games back in January defeating Western Colorado (72-63) and Colorado Mesa (79-76).
 
Upcoming or recently eclipsed milestones include Alex Semadeni who recently eclipsed 750 career points and is approaching 800, currently at 787. He recently went over 275 career field goals and is at 288. His rebounding numbers just eclipsed 425, as he currently sits at 436. Semadeni recently went over 150 career assists and is at 162 and reached 75 career steals after coming away with five this past weekend. His 28 blocked shots are tied for 22nd in program history. Beasley is coming close to 900 career points after scoring 36 this past weekend left him at 873. He is closing in on 350 career field goals, right now at 324. His 200 free throws put him 23rd in program history, four away from landing in the top-20. Beasley is closing in on 350 rebounds, sitting at 345. He also recently eclipsed 50 blocks and 50 steals, right now at 56 blocks (putting him seventh in program history) and 68 steals. Otas Iyekekpolor sent back blocks number 29 and 30 against Dixie State which leaves him 22nd in program history. He also recently eclipsed 200 career points at FLC and is closing in on 250, right now at 241. AJ Sparks recently went over 150 points at FLC and is at 165, while also approaching 50 field goals, currently at 45. Boatwright recently went over 150 points and is at 167, along with pushing past 50 field goals, sitting at 53. Keven Biggs is the next one closest to posting 100 points, entering the weekend with 94. Kireed Johnson just went past 100 points over the past few weeks and is right now at 113, he's also three three-pointers away from 30 (27). Will Wittman just went over 125 career points and is currently at 141. He sits three field goals away from 50 (47) and is a couple three-pointers away from 30 (28). Head Coach Bob Pietrack is nine wins away from 100 in his career, currently sitting at 91-32.
 
On the season, FLC averages 74 points and allows 75 points, making 43 percent from the field and allowing a 46 percent clip. Beasley leads the way at 17.2 points, along with 5.5 rebounds, 26 assists, 30 steals and 14 blocks while making 50 percent from the field. Semadeni averages 11.5 points, along with 5.8 rebounds, 82 assists, 27 steals, three blocks and is shooting 40 percent from the field, making 26 three-pointers. Iyekekpolor adds 9.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 16 assists, 17 steals, 30 blocks and is shooting 51 percent. Sparks adds 7.5 and Boatwright is at 7.3.
 
As a team, FLC ranks in the top-five in the RMAC and top-100 nationally in several categories including third in the RMAC and 17th nationally in free throws made (432), fifth in the RMAC in three point field goal defense (35.2), fifth in the RMAC in total steals (166), second in the RMAC and 87th nationally in turnover margin (1.4), fourth in the RMAC and 84th nationally in turnovers forced (14.76).
 
Individually, Semadeni is third in the RMAC and 93rd nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0), third in the RMAC in minutes per game (34:25), fourth in the RMAC and 78th nationally in total minutes (860:31), eighth in the RMAC in total assists (82), and 10th in the RMAC in free throw percentage (79.6). Sparks is seventh in the RMAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.45). Iyekekpolor is fourth in the RMAC and 84th nationally in total blocks (30) and is also fourth in the RMAC in blocked shots per game (1.20). Beasley is fourth in the RMAC and 97th nationally in total field goals made (158), sixth in the RMAC in total points (431), seventh in the RMAC and 97th nationally in free throws made (97) and seventh in the RMAC in two other categories including field goal percentage (50) and points per game (17.2).
 
FLC will face Colorado Mesa first on Friday night. During the last meeting on Jan. 19 in Durango, the Skyhawks pulled out a hard-fought 79-76 victory. Even point distribution powered the win with five players reaching double-figures and seven scoring at least six points. Sparks and Wittman led the way with 14 points apiece, while Semadeni and Beasley tallied 12 points each and Boatwright added 10.
 
Colorado Mesa is 17-8 overall and 12-7 in RMAC play, holding a 7-3 mark at home. They picked up wins this past weekend against Colorado Christian (69-58) and Regis (75-71), both on the road. The Mavericks are currently ninth in the first South Central Region rankings.
 
The Mavericks average 82 points and allow 76 points, making 52 percent from the field and allowing a 45 percent clip. Connor Nichols averages 20.1 points per game, while Tommy Nuno tallies 11.8 and Damon Dubots is at 11.1.
 
To close the weekend, FLC will face Western Colorado on Saturday. During the last meeting on Jan. 18 in Durango, the Mountaineers jumped out to an early 13-point lead before FLC stormed back to claim the 72-63 victory. Four reached double-digits in scoring led by 22 from Beasley, 18 from Iyekekpolor, 11 from Sparks and 10 from Semadeni.
 
Western Colorado is 4-21 overall and 1-18 in RMAC play, holding a 1-12 mark at home. After coming close to several conference wins this season, the Mountaineers claimed their first RMAC win this past Saturday with a 74-72 win at Colorado Christian.
 
As a team, the Mountaineers average 76 points and allow 85 points, making 43 percent from the field and allowing a 50 percent clip. Brady Subart leads the way at 15.3 points per game, while Cole Sienknecht adds 13.0 and Jackson Ehrlin is next at 8.2.
 
A look around the RMAC has Colorado School of Mines leading the way having already clinched the regular season title with a 19-0 record. Regis is second with a 14-5 mark, while Dixie State, UC-Colorado Springs and Black Hills State are all tied for third with 13-6 records. Colorado Mesa is sixth with a 12-7 record, while New Mexico Highlands is seventh with a 11-8 record and Adams State rounds out the top-eight in the conference for a tournament spot with a 10-9 record. Chadron State is just a game back in ninth with a 9-10 record, MSU Denver and South Dakota Mines also remain in the hunt tied for 10th with 8-11 records. Westminster is 12th with a 7-12 record, Fort Lewis is 13th with a 6-13 record, Colorado Christian and CSU-Pueblo are both tied for 14th with 4-15 records and Western Colorado is 16th with a 1-18 record.
 
Live video and stats will be available for both games. Up next after this weekend, FLC will conclude the regular season with Senior Night on Friday (Mar. 1) against Adams State starting at 7:30 p.m. inside Whalen Gym.
 
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Players Mentioned

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
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
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
Kireed Johnson

#12 Kireed Johnson

6' 0"
Junior
G
AJ Sparks

#24 AJ Sparks

5' 10"
Junior
G