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Alex Semadeni
Max DeHerrera/Sports Fanatic Photography

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

Men’s Basketball to Host Cougars, Rangers This Weekend

DURANGO, Colo. – Following a four-game road trip, the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team returns to Whalen Gym to host Colorado Christian on Friday and Regis on Saturday with both games starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday's game against Regis will be a white out game sponsored by Durango Motor Company.

FLC (9-12, 4-11 RMAC) fought hard against both Dixie State and Westminster but fell short in both. They will look to snap a four-game losing streak, as they hold a 6-4 record at home having last played inside Whalen Gym on Jan. 19 when the Skyhawks pulled out a thrilling 79-76 win over Colorado Mesa.

The Skyhawks just faced both Regis (Jan. 25) and Colorado Christian (Jan. 26), as the Rangers claimed a 78-70 win and the Cougars took the 89-77 win. In the game against Regis, Otas Iyekekpolor went for 17 points, while Will Wittman added 16, Kireed Johnson with 12 and Alex Semadeni with 11. Against Colorado Christian, Marquel Beasley led the way with 23 points, Iyekekpolor added 19 and Semadeni with 13.

Upcoming or recently eclipsed milestones include Semadeni who is just two points short of 750 in his career, currently at 748. He recently went over 275 career field goals and is at 276. His rebounding numbers just eclipsed 400, as he currently sits at 417. Semadeni recently went over 150 career assists this past weekend and is at 151 and is closing in on 75 steals, currently at 70. His 28 blocked shots are tied for 22nd in program history. Beasley moved past 800 career points on Saturday after scoring 19 against Westminster and is currently at 803. He's quickly approaching 300 made field goals, right now at 296. His 187 free throws put him 28th in program history, five away from 23rd and 17 from landing in the top-20. Beasley is closing in on 350 rebounds, sitting at 323. He also recently eclipsed 50 blocks and 50 steals, right now at 55 blocks (putting him seventh in program history) and 62 steals. Iyekekpolor sent back his 27th block against Dixie State which currently puts him alone in 23rd in program history. He also recently eclipsed 200 career points at FLC and is at 210. AJ Sparks is quickly approaching 150 career points, currently at 135, he's also just 14 field goals away from 50 (36). Brenden Boatwright, behind a big 15-point game against Westminster, moved past 100 career points and is at 107. Keven Biggs is the next one closest to posting 100 points, entering the weekend with 91. Kireed Johnson is five points away from 100 at FLC (95), while Will Wittman is closing in on 125 career points in his first season with FLC, right now at 119. Head Coach Bob Pietrack is 11 wins away from 100 in his career, currently sitting at 89-30.

FLC enters the week averaging 75 points and allowing 76 points, making 43 percent from the field and allowing a 45 percent clip. Beasley leads the way at 17.2 points per game, along with 5.5 rebounds, 22 assists, 24 steals and 13 steals while making nearly 50 percent (49.4) from the field. Semadeni is at 11.9 points per game, 6.0 rebounds, 71 assists, 22 steals and three blocks, while shooting 40 percent and is averaging 34 minutes per game. Iyekekpolor is at 10 points per game, along with 5.4 rebounds, 16 assists, 13 steals and 27 blocks while making 52 percent from the field. Sparks adds 7.5 points, Wittman is at 6.0 and Boatwright is at 5.6 points per game.

FLC ranks in the top-five in the RMAC and top-100 nationally in several categories including fifth in the RMAC in blocked shots per game (3.2), first in the RMAC and 21st nationally in free throws made (366), fifth in the RMAC in steals per game (6.7), second in the RMAC and 71st nationally in three point field goal defense (33.2), fifth in the RMAC in total blocks (68), fifth in the RMAC in total rebounds (738), fourth in the RMAC in total steals (141), second in the RMAC and 94th nationally in turnover margin (1.4), third in the RMAC and 84th nationally in turnovers forced (14.86) and fifth in the RMAC in turnovers per game (13.5).

Individually, Semadeni is third in the RMAC and 90th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.03), fourth in the RMAC in minutes per game (34:04) and total minutes (715:31), eighth in the RMAC in assists per game (3.4), free throws made (70) and total assists (71) and 10th in the RMAC in free throw percentage (80.5). Beasley is fourth in the RMAC in total field goals made (130), sixth in the RMAC in total points (361), seventh in the RMAC in free throws made (84) and points per game (17.2), eighth in the RMAC in field goal percentage (49.4). Iyekekpolor is third in the RMAC and 69th nationally in total blocks (27) and third in the RMAC and 87th nationally in blocked shots per game (1.29).

First up, FLC will face Colorado Christian on Friday. The Cougars are 6-15 overall and 4-11 in RMAC play. Since facing the Skyhawks, they defeated Western Colorado in overtime (93-92) and lost at Colorado Mesa (63-94). The Cougars average 72 points and allow 82 points, making 47 percent from the field and allowing a 50 percent clip.

Four players average in double-figures led by Jeremiah Hanson's 13.7 per game. Braxton Tucker is at 12.0, Justin Engesser adds 11.4 and Stefan Hackethal is at 10.3 points per game. CCU is 2-6 away from home in true road contests this season.

To close the week, FLC will face the red-hot Regis Rangers who are currently on a four-game winning steak and are 15-6 overall and 12-3 in RMAC play. Since facing FLC, Regis picked up road wins against Colorado Mesa (78-75) and Western Colorado (86-77). They hold a 6-2 record away from home in true road contests.

Regis averages 79 points and allow 72 points, making 46 percent from the field and allowing a 44 percent clip. Jarrett Brodbeck leads the way at 17.7 points per game, followed by Christian Little's 15.8 points. Brian Dawson (9.2) and Ryan Beisty (9.1) are the next closest to double-figures in scoring.

A look around the RMAC has nationally-ranked Colorado School of Mines alone in first place at 15-0. Regis is second at 12-3, New Mexico Highlands and Black Hills State are tied for third at 10-5, Colorado Mesa, Dixie State and UC-Colorado Springs are all tied for fifth with 9-6 records, Chadron State is alone in eighth at 8-7, South Dakota Mines and Adams State are tied for ninth at 7-8, MSU Denver and Westminster are tied for 11th at 6-9, Fort Lewis, Colorado Christian and CSU-Pueblo are tied for 13th with 4-11 records, while Western Colorado is 16th with a 0-15 record.

A look ahead has FLC at home next weekend (Feb. 15-16) against Westminster and Dixie State.

Live video and stats will be available for both games.
 
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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