Westminster (UT) WC-UT 6-13,5-8 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC 16-2,10-2 RMAC

Westminster (UT) WC-UT

6-13,5-8 RMAC

Final

Jan. 21, 2023

Fort Lewis FLC

16-2,10-2 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Westminster (UT) WC-UT	29	34	63
Fort Lewis FLC	46	33	79

Summary
Box Score

JoJo Lutz, Fort Lewis Athletic Communications

Akuel Kot (22) meets the Griffins up high for the block.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 1/21/2023 10:27:00 PM | Hayden Mangan, Athletic Communications Assistant

No. 12/16 Skyhawks exact revenge, handle Griffins at home 79-63

DURANGO, Colo. – After handing the Fort Lewis College men's basketball team (16-2, 10-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) its first loss 93-79 back on December 17, the Westminster College Griffins (6-13, 5-8 RMAC) could not prepare for the edge they created as the twelfth-ranked Skyhawks dominated at home right from the opening tip Saturday night.

"I thought our guys collectively as a group were really focused today," Fort Lewis College Head Coach Bob Pietrack said. "Defensively we kept them under 40% and their three-point percentage was really poor, so I felt good about that. Westminster is a tough game for us, there was some revenge factor because they beat us earlier, but defensively we controlled the ball game."

Akuel Kot led all scorers with 24 points, but it was JaQuaylon Mays creating havoc across the floor and providing an additional 13 points and 11 rebounds – his fourth career double-double and first this season with Fort Lewis. Brenden Boatwright finished just shy of a double-double as well, supplying 11 points and nine additional rebounds.

The Skyhawks controlled the game from the first basket, taking the lead just 1:03 into the game and never looking back. Fort Lewis improved its shooting from last night, finishing 42.9% (27-63) from the field and 35.3% (12-34) from the three-point line.

Westminster could not create momentum nor slow down the Skyhawks early, allowing FLC to go on a 16-2 run to open the game capped off with a three-point jump shot from Junior Garbrah thanks to an outlet pass from Mays.

The Griffins began to watch the deficit dwindle, cutting it as low as five points on a jump shot in the post from Pierce Sterling and once more after a fast-break layup from Donaval Avila, but Fort Lewis responded promptly and a free throw from Sekou Dembele had the Skyhawks up by seventeen at halftime.

Fort Lewis had the Griffins in check, and the Skyhawks made their exclamation point in the second half. Jumping out to a quick 19-point lead and stretching it to as many as 22 on a pair of made free throws from Boatwright with 2:18 remaining in the game, FLC responded promptly to both its first matchup loss with Westminster and last night's tough loss at home to pick up its 16th win of the season.

Westminster had just two players finish in double-digit figures: Trey Farrer with 21 points and Avila with an additional 14. Fort Lewis led the rebound battle tonight, grabbing 43 boards to the Griffins 37.

NOTABLES
-Brendan La Rose's three blocks tonight lifts his season total to 18 and now ranks fifth in the RMAC for total blocks. Additionally, La Rose now has 11 blocks in his last four home games.
-Akuel Kot's 24-point performance tonight now marks his 12^th game this season with 20 or more points.
-JaQuaylon Mays 13-point double-double tonight is the fourth of his career and first with Fort Lewis. Mays had two double-doubles last season with the Missouri Western Griffions alongside one the season prior.
-Fort Lewis continues to ride the best start in program history through as many games with just two losses.

TOP 25 MATCHUP LIES AHEAD
Fort Lewis has a daunting road trip ahead as the Skyhawks head to Lockridge Arena to take on the No. 5/9 Colorado School of Mines Orediggers (18-1, 12-1 RMAC) on Friday, Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m. The Skyhawks will then face off with the Roadrunners from MSU Denver (7-11, 4-8 RMAC) on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 6:00 p.m. to cap off the road trip.

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