Fort Lewis FLC 10-0,4-0 RMAC

CSU Pueblo CSU-P 6-4,2-2 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC

10-0,4-0 RMAC

Final

Dec. 10, 2022

CSU Pueblo CSU-P

6-4,2-2 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Fort Lewis FLC	28	41	69
CSU Pueblo CSU-P	41	24	65

Summary
Box Score

JoJo Lutz, Fort Lewis Athletic Communications

Akuel Kot (22) driving to the lane.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 12/10/2022 10:05:00 PM | Hayden Mangan, Athletic Communications Assistant

No. 12/25 Skyhawks fight all the way back, stun Thunderwolves 69-65 to maintain perfection

PUEBLO, Colo. – The Skyhawks found themselves somewhere they have yet to be this season: trailing by as many as 14 points for more than 31 minutes in the game. In the end, however, the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team got the job done, stunning Colorado State University-Pueblo 69-65 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game Saturday evening in Massari Arena.

The Skyhawks maintain its historic run to begin the season and advance to 10-0 overall and 4-0 in conference games. The Thunderwolves drop to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in the RMAC.

"Our team has an incredible bond," head coach Bob Pietrack said. "First and foremost, I want to acknowledge our assistant coaches as well as our scout team for giving us the tools we needed to be successful tonight. We were challenged extremely well in the first half, CSUP did an excellent job of keeping us off balance and out of rhythm."

The Pack were locked and loaded from the get-go, shooting 55.6 percent from the field (15-27), 50.0 percent from the three-point line (6-12), and a perfect 5-5 at the charity stripe in the opening half. Leading by as many as 13, the Thunderwolves maintained its reign of three-point jumpers to keep Fort Lewis off the board.

Fort Lewis struggled with the rock in the opening minutes, shooting a combined 35.5 percent from the floor (11-31), 14.3 percent from beyond the arc (1-7), and a comfortable 5-5 at the free-throw line to match CSU Pueblo. After a jump shot in the post by the Thunderwolves Lian Ramiro with seconds remaining, the Skyhawks found themselves trailing 41-28 at halftime.

Shooting woes continued for FLC in the second half, allowing The Pack to extend the lead by 14 points early. Momentum began to swing, however, as the Skyhawks forced turnover after turnover, and finally with 5:22 left to go Akuel Kot drained a three-point jump shot to give Fort Lewis its first lead of the night 57-56.

It was down to the wire from there, but the Skyhawks held off the Thunderwolves late and took advantage of the free-throw line. Brenden Boatwright sealed the game with his second free throw and six seconds left on the lock, all but assuring the win for Fort Lewis.

"Extremely proud of all our guys tonight, but especially Boatwright late in the game. He had some struggles early in the first half, but he found a way to bring it back in the end and help his team overcome adversity. The togetherness and toughness of this group are just unmatched. No matter how hard they get hit, they find a way to claw back and stay right there in it."

Kot led all scorers on the night with 27 points by way of 10-17 shooting from the floor, 2-6 from the three-point line, and 5-6 at the charity stripe. Adding three rebounds, one steal, and one assist, Kot was the only Fort Lewis player to finish in double-figures tonight.

The Pack was led by Meekness Payne with 14 points, four rebounds, and four blocks while Lian Ramiro, Moses Demalek, and Isaiah Thompson each provided an additional 13 points.

CSU Pueblo out-shot the Skyhawks across the night by way of 46.3 to 45.2 percent from the floor, 45.5 to 20.0 percent from the three-point line, and 100.0 to 71.4 percent from the free throw line.

NOTABLES
-The Skyhawks 20.0 percent shooting percentage from the three-point line is the lowest through the season thus far.
-Akuel Kot's 27-point performance is his second-straight contest with 25+ points and his eighth overall game this season with 20 or more points.
-Dunnell Stafford set a new season-high with three steals tonight.
-JaQuaylon Mays set a new season-high with three steals tonight.
-The Skyhawks 11 steals tonight marks the fifth game of the season with 10 or more as a team.

NEXT UP
Fort Lewis is back on the road next week for a lone RMAC matchup before the holidays. The Skyhawks will travel to Salt Lake City, Utah to square off with the Westminster Griffins (1-8, 1-3 RMAC) on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 5:00 p.m.

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