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Brian Kortz, FLC Athletics

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

Men’s Basketball Welcomes Grizzlies to Whalen Gym This Friday for Senior Night

DURANGO, Colo. – Three seniors in Otas Iyekekpolor, Marquel Beasley and Alex Semadeni will be honored Friday night when the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team hosts Adams State for senior night at 7:30 p.m. inside Whalen Gym.

Below is information on the three seniors.

Otas Iyekekpolor arrived at Fort Lewis for this season after playing the previous three years at Division I Central Arkansas. The Edmonton, Alberta native will play in his 98th collegiate game tonight and for his career compiled 354 points, 124 field goals, 15 three-pointers, 91 free throws, 223 rebounds, 26 steals, 47 blocks and 25 assists.

This season with the Skyhawks, Iyekekpolor has played in all 27 games, tallying 23 starts 273 points, 97 field goals, 13 three-pointers, 66 free throws, 150 rebounds, 20 steals, 31 blocks, 17 assists. His 31 blocked shots tie him for 21st in program history.

He recently scored a career-high 23 points against Colorado Mesa where he went 9-13 from the field. He's reached double-digits in 13 games, hit two three-pointers in a game twice, grabbed 12 rebounds in a game twice and has two double-doubles against Colorado Mesa (23 points and 12 rebounds) and Southwest (10 points and 12 rebounds). He added four assists against Northern New Mexico, sent back four blocks in a game three different times and had three steals in a game twice.

Marquel Beasley from Rock Island, Illinois, spent the past two seasons playing for the Skyhawks after transferring from Iowa Western Junior College. Entering tonight, he will be playing in his 122nd career game and 59th game for the Skyhawks, having started every game at Fort Lewis. For his entire collegiate career, Beasley amassed 1,584 points, 605 field goals, 29 three-pointers, 345 free throws, 743 rebounds, 104 assists, 110 steals and 94 blocks. During his two-year career at Fort Lewis, Beasley is sitting right at 900 points at after scoring 27 this past weekend. He is closing in on 350 career field goals, right now at 333. His 209 free throws put him 20th in program history. Beasley recently eclipsed 350 rebounds, sitting at 360. He also recently eclipsed 50 blocks and 50 steals, right now at 56 blocks (putting him seventh in program history) and 69 steals.

This season Beasley entered the year being named the RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and so far he has compiled 458 points, 153 rebounds, 28 assists, 31 steals, 14 blocks, 167 field goals, 18 three-pointers and 106 free throws. He leads the team in scoring, rebounding, steals, field goals and free throws. He posted a season-high 28 points against the University of the Southwest and has reached double-figures in 24 games, going for more than 20 points eight times. He also went for a season-high 11 field goals against Southwest, made two three-pointers in a game five times, hit 11 free throws against Haskell, grabbed 12 rebounds against Southwest and has three double-doubles this season, tallied six assists versus Haskell, three blocks against Southwest and four steals against Southwest.

Beasley was named to the All-RMAC Second Team last year and his career-high marks include 36 points against Western Colorado, 12 rebounds three times in a game, six assists in a game twice, four steals in a game twice, three blocks in a game twice, 14 field goals against Western Colorado, two three-pointers in a game six times and 11 free throws versus Haskell.

Alex Semadeni spent his entire collegiate career at Fort Lewis after playing at Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colorado and has put together a great career as he will play his 114th game for the Skyhawks tonight and 43rd start as he recently eclipsed 800 career points and is currently at 806. He is approaching 300 career field goals, sitting at 295. His rebounding numbers just eclipsed 425, as he currently sits at 439. Semadeni recently went over 150 career assists and is at 165 and is at 77 career steals. His 28 blocked shots are tied for 22nd in program history.

This season, Semadeni has started all 27 games, accumulating 307 points, 111 rebounds, 85 assists, 29 steals, three blocks, 99 field goals, 28 three-pointers and 81 free throws while logging 923 minutes. He leads the team in minutes played, assists and is second on the team in scoring, steals, field goals and free throws. He's reached double-figures in scoring 17 times, going for a career-high 37 points in the epic overtime win at Chadron State in which he sunk three three-pointers down the stretch to get the game into overtime. Semadeni also set career-highs in field goals made with 10, three-pointer with five and free throws with 12 in that same game against the Eagles. He pulled down 11 rebounds against the University of the Southwest and dished out six assists in that game. He sent back two blocks against Black Hills State and had three steals in a game in four games. Some of his other career-highs include five steals in a game against New Mexico Highlands, and three blocked shots in two different games.

A four-time Academic All-RMAC recipient, he was also named to the NABC Honors Court during the 2016-17 season.

FLC enters the week with a 12-15 overall record and 7-14 mark in the RMAC and split the games this past weekend, picking up a big 85-68 win at Colorado Mesa, but then fell short at Western Colorado, 68-82. In the win against the Mavericks, Iyekekpolor had his biggest game as a Skyhawks going for a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Three others reached double-figures in Beasley (18), Semadeni (15) and AJ Sparks (10).

In addition to the career numbers for Iyekekpolor, Beasley and Semadeni, several other players are closing in on numerous milestones including Sparks who is approaching 200 points at FLC after scoring 23 this past weekend put him at 188, while also eclipsing 50 field goals with 53. Brenden Boatwright recently went over 150 points and is at 177, along with pushing past 50 field goals, sitting at 57. He sits 26 rebounds away from 100 (74). Keven Biggs is the next one closest to posting 100 points, entering the weekend with 94. Kireed Johnson is pushing towards 150 points at FLC, right now at 134. He also drilled five three-pointers to put him over 30, right now at 32. Will Wittman went over 150 points at FLC after scoring 19 this past weekend to put him at 160. He also moved over 50 field goals (54) and over 30 three-pointers (32) this past weekend. Head Coach Bob Pietrack is eight wins away from 100 in his career, currently sitting at 92-33.

As a team, FLC averages 74 points and allow 75 points, making 44 percent from the field and allowing a 46 percent clip. Beasley continues to lead the way in points at 17.0 per game, while adding 5.7 rebounds, 28 assists, 31 steals, 14 blocks and is shooting 50 percent from the field. Semadeni adds 11.4 points and 5.5 rebounds, along with 85 assists, 29 steals, three blocks and is shooting 41 percent from the field with 28 three-pointers. Iyekekpolor gives the Skyhawks three players in double-figures at 10.1 per game along with 5.6 rebounds, 17 assists, 20 steals, 31 blocks and is shooting 52 percent from the field. Sparks adds 7.8 points and Boatwright is at 7.1.

FLC ranks in the top-five in the RMAC and top-100 nationally in several categories including third in the RMAC and 13th nationally in free throws made (464), fifth in the RMAC in three point field goal defense (35.6), fifth in the RMAC in total blocks (83), fourth in the RMAC in steals (180), third in the RMAC in turnover margin (1.0), fourth in the RMAC and 88th nationally in turnovers forced (14.63).

Individually, Semadeni is fourth in the RMAC and 72nd nationally in total minutes (924:18), fourth in the RMAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.81), third in the RMAC in minutes per game (34:14) and ninth in the RMAC in total assists (85). Sparks is sixth in the RMAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.49). Iyekekpolor is fourth in the RMAC and 92nd nationally in total blocks (31) and fourth in the RMAC in blocked shots per game (1.15). Beasley is fifth in the RMAC in total field goals made (167), sixth in the RMAC in total points (458), seventh in the RMAC and 84th nationally in free throws made (106), also seventh in the RMAC in field goal percentage (49.9), and points per game (17.0).

Adams State enters with a 10-16 overall record and 10-11 mark in the RMAC and this will be a big game for the Grizzlies as they are currently tied for the eighth and final tournament spot with Chadron State. The Eagles hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. MSU Denver and South Dakota Mines remain within striking distance sitting just a game back.

During the earlier meeting back on Dec. 1 at Alamosa, the Grizzlies fought off the Skyhawks to take the 68-60 victory in overtime. Beasley led four Skyhawks in double-figures with 17 points while Riley Farris added 13, Semadeni with 11 and Biggs with 10.

Adams State is 4-7 away from home and are riding a two-game losing streak having lost at Western Colorado in overtime (86-87) and at Colorado Mesa (82-96) this past weekend.

The Grizzlies average 80 points and allow 81 points, making 44 percent from the field and allowing a 47 percent shooting percentage. John Dewey has been one of the top scorers in the conference averaging 20.8 points per game. Davere Creighton adds 14.5 and Shemar Johnson is at 13.5 points per game.

A look around the RMAC has Colorado School of Mines in first with a 20-1 mark and have already clinched the regular season title. Dixie State and Regis are tied for second with 15-6 mark. UC-Colorado Springs and Black Hills State are tied for the fourth and final hosting seed in the tournament at 14-7, Colorado Mesa and New Mexico Highlands are tied for sixth at 13-8 and then Chadron State and Adams State are tied for the eighth and final tournament spot at 10-11. MSU Denver and South Dakota Mines sit just a game back at 9-12. Westminster is 12th at 8-13, Fort Lewis is 13th at 7-14, Colorado Christian and CSU-Pueblo are tied for 14th at 4-17 and Western Colorado is 16th at 3-18.

Live video and stats will be available for the game.
 
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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
Riley Farris

#42 Riley Farris

F
6' 9"
Junior
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
Riley Farris

#42 Riley Farris

6' 9"
Junior
F
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