Angela Roberts, FLC Athletic Communications

Dunnell "Scottie" Stafford (4) uses a reverse-layup for the score.

Men's Basketball 1/19/2023 4:00:00 PM Hayden Mangan, Athletic Communications Assistant

No. 12/16 Skyhawks return home to face No. 23 Mavericks, Griffins

DURANGO, Colo. – The No. 12/16 Fort Lewis College men's basketball is back at home in Whalen Gymnasium this weekend for a top twenty-five matchup against the twenty-third-ranked Colorado Mesa Mavericks and a rematch against the Westminster Griffins Friday and Saturday night.

GAME INFORMATION
Friday, January 20
7:30 p.m.
Vs. No. 23 Colorado Mesa
Whalen Gymnasium
Durango, CO

Saturday, January 21
7:00 p.m.
Vs. Westminster
Whalen Gymnasium
Durango, CO

Friday and Saturday's games will both be available for free on the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Network courtesy of Fort Lewis College Athletics. Skyhawks fans can enjoy Bob Bonnar and Rick O'Block on play-by-play and color. Live statistics will also be available during each game.

RIVALRY MATCHUP WITH MAVERICKS
Colorado Mesa currently sits just one game back from Fort Lewis in conference standings at 14-3 overall and 9-2 in RMAC play. The Mavericks are riding a nine-game win streak heading into this weekend after handing previously third-ranked Black Hills State its first loss of the season and defeating South Dakota School of Mines.

The Mavs lead the all-time series against Fort Lewis 60-43 with a one-game win streak after topping the Skyhawks 81-75 in overtime last season. Whalen Gymnasium has been Colorado Mesa's kryptonite where FLC leads the series 27-22.

Blaise Threatt and Trevor Baskin headline the talented Mavs team that boasts the second-ranked defense in the RMAC allowing opponents to average just 65.5 points per game. Threatt, a six-foot-three guard, leads Colorado Mesa in scoring with an average of 16.9 points per game to complement 6.3 rebounds per game. Baskin, a six-foot-nine forward, edges out Threatt with 7.1 rebounds per game but trails close behind with 14.9 points per game.

ROUND TWO AGAINST THE GRIFFINS
Westminster and Fort Lewis have already met once this season in Salt Lake City, Utah where the Griffins handed FLC its first and only loss of the season by a score of 93-79. Since then, WC has gone on a 2-4 split to reach 5-12 overall and 4-7 in RMAC play. Fort Lewis still leads the all-time series 28-21 with a 12-4 record inside Whalen Gymnasium.

The Griffins rank tenth in offensive points per game (72.2) and eighth in defensive points per game allowed (73.6) in the RMAC. Trey Farrer, a six-foot-nine forward, continues to dominate for WC averaging 17.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Westminster has three additional individuals who average double-digit points per game; Taylor Miller (11.3), Donaval Avila (11.0), and Jeremy Dowdell (10.4).

LAST TIME OUT
The Skyhawks are flying high after back-to-back wins on the road over Chadron State (9-8, 6-5 RMAC) 84-72 and Colorado Christian (7-10, 3-8 RMAC) 80-62. Brenden Boatwright led the charge against the Eagles, tallying 19 points alongside nine rebounds and two assists. Additionally, Boatwright surpassed 1,000 career points in the contest.

In game two against the Cougars it was the duo of Akuel Kot and Brendan La Rose who stepped up. Kot led all scorers with 27 points paired with one block, one steal, and three assists. La Rose had a career night, scoring 17 points and grabbing three boards. Both Kot and La Rose each made five three-pointers in the contest to combine for 10 of the team's 11 total.

LOOKING AHEAD
An exigent road trip lies ahead for Fort Lewis. The Skyhawks will head to Golden and Denver, Colorado next week for contests against No. 5/9 Colorado School of Mines (17-1, 11-1 RMAC) and MSU Denver (6-11, 3-8 RMAC). The Orediggers are first up on the weekend slate, welcoming Fort Lewis for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off in Lockridge Arena.

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Players Mentioned

#33 Brenden Boatwright: F/C; 6' 9"; Senior

#22 Akuel Kot: G; 6' 2"; Junior

#32 Brendan La Rose: F; 6' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#33 Brenden Boatwright
: 6' 9"; Senior
: F/C

#22 Akuel Kot
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

#32 Brendan La Rose
: 6' 9"; Senior
: F

Players Mentioned

#33 Brenden Boatwright

#22 Akuel Kot

#32 Brendan La Rose

Players Mentioned

#33 Brenden Boatwright

#22 Akuel Kot

#32 Brendan La Rose