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Dunnell Stafford vs. Texas Permian Basin - Nov. 19, 2022
JoJo Lutz, Fort Lewis Athletic Communications
Dunnell "Scottie" Stafford (4) lays it in over a Falcons defender.

Men's Basketball Hayden Mangan, Athletic Communications Assistant

Mountain Lions, Rangers challenge No. 15/17 Skyhawks in Whalen Gymnasium to ring in the new year

DURANGO, Colo. – With the new year comes new challenges, and first up for the No. 15/17 Fort Lewis College men's basketball team are the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Mountain Lions and Regis Rangers. The Skyhawks will host the visiting foes for a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conferences games at home this Friday and Saturday.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Friday, January 6
7:30 p.m.
Vs. UC-Colorado Springs
Whalen Gymnasium
Durango, CO
 
Saturday, January 7
7:00 p.m.
Vs. Regis
Whalen Gymnasium
Durango, CO
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Both of the games this weekend will be available for free on the RMAC Network. Fans can enjoy Fort Lewis' own Bob Bonnar and Rick O'Block on the broadcast.
 
TRAIN NIGHT AND FIRST RESPONDERS/VETERANS NIGHT
Friday's game will be the inaugural Train Night, sponsored by the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Fans will enjoy a game ball presentation as well as the chance to win a four-person Cascade Canyon Winter Package.
 
Saturday's contest will be First Responders and Veterans Night, and all first responders and veterans will receive free admission to the 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. doubleheader. Fort Lewis College athletics thanks those individuals for their time, dedication, and service.
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN LIONS
First up on this weekend's docket are the 11-3 overall Mountain Lions from UC-Colorado Springs. Owning a 5-2 RMAC record, UCCS is currently in a three-way tie for fourth place in conference standings. 
 
Friday's home contest will mark the 53rd meeting of all time between the two programs. Riding a two-game win streak over UCCS, Fort Lewis owns a nearly impenetrable 23-4 record at home against the Mountain Lions. Owning the fourth-highest-scoring offense in the conference at 81.5 points per game, UC-Colorado Springs is currently cruising on a four-game win streak after topping Westminster (3-10, 2-5 RMAC), Colorado Christian (6-7, 2-5 RMAC), Western Colorado (2-8, 0-6 RMAC), and Chadron State (8-5, 5-2 RMAC).
 
Turnovers and defense have been the Mountain Lions Achilles heel, as 14.6 turnovers per game have allowed opponents to score an average of 72.4 points per game - eighth highest team average in the RMAC. Leading the charge for the Mountain Lions is senior Jon'il Fugett. The six-foot guard is averaging 13.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game shooting 39.9% from the floor, 40.3% from the three-point line, and 75.0% at the free-throw line.
 
SCOUTING THE RANGERS
The Skyhawks will have a chip on its shoulder for Saturday night's game against Regis as Fort Lewis looks to avenge its season-ending loss last year. The Rangers topped FLC 86-81 in Whalen Gymnasium to eliminate the Skyhawks from the post-season and RMAC Tournament just a season ago.
 
After going 20-10 last season and reaching the RMAC Tournament Championship game, Regis is off to a steady start this season with a 5-7 overall record and a 2-4 conference record.
 
Spearheading the starting five for the Rangers is David Simental. The six-foot-two graduate student joined Regis after spending seasons with Nebraska-Kearney - where he averaged 18.8 points and 3.4 rebounds last season - as well as CSU Pueblo and Montana State Billings. Simental is picking up right where he left off, averaging 14.6 points and 2.8 rebounds thus far.
 
The Rangers boast a solid defense that has limited opponents to an average of 71.3 points per game, a mark that is sixth-best in the RMAC. Offensively however Regis has had its struggles, averaging the conference's 14th-ranked offense at just 68.9 points per game.
 
AROUND THE RMAC
No. 3/3 Black Hills State (12-0, 6-0 RMAC) continues to lead the conference with No. 7/10 Colorado School of Mines (12-1, 6-1 RMAC) on its heels after both programs picked up wins last week. UCCS, Colorado Mesa (10-3, 5-2 RMAC), and Chadron State (8-5, 5-2 RMAC) all trail the Skyhawks by just a game. After its loss to Fort Lewis last week, South Dakota Mines (5-9, 4-4 RMAC) matched New Mexico Highlands (6-8, 4-4 RMAC) in conference standings for what would be the final two spots in the conference tournament.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Fort Lewis is fresh off a bounce-back win at home over South Dakota Mines 93-82. While the Hardrockers had five players finish in double figures, the Skyhawks needed just four – Obi Agbim (21 points), Akuel Kot (18), JaQuaylon Mays (15), and Dunnell Stafford (10) – to overcome the invading Hardrockers. Fort Lewis out-shot SDM 44.6% (25-56) to 40.9% (27-66) from the field and 48.6% (17-35) to 33.3% from the three-point line. The Skyhawks 17 three-point field goals tied for the fifth-highest single-game performance in program history.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Next week the Skyhawks are back on the road for a two-game series at Chadron State and Colorado Christian. Fort Lewis will invade Chadron for a matchup with the Eagles on Friday, Jan. 13, at 7:30 p.m. followed by the Cougars on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 7:00 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Akuel Kot

#22 Akuel Kot

G
6' 2"
Junior
Dunnell Stafford

#4 Dunnell Stafford

G
6' 0"
Senior
Obi Agbim

#5 Obi Agbim

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
JaQuaylon Mays

#10 JaQuaylon Mays

G
6' 1"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Akuel Kot

#22 Akuel Kot

6' 2"
Junior
G
Dunnell Stafford

#4 Dunnell Stafford

6' 0"
Senior
G
Obi Agbim

#5 Obi Agbim

6' 3"
Sophomore
G
JaQuaylon Mays

#10 JaQuaylon Mays

6' 1"
Senior
G