UC-Colo. Springs UCCS 11-4,5-3 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC 12-1,6-1 RMAC

UC-Colo. Springs UCCS

11-4,5-3 RMAC

Final

Jan. 06, 2023

Fort Lewis FLC

12-1,6-1 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
UC-Colo. Springs UCCS	32	37	69
Fort Lewis FLC	34	43	77

Summary
Box Score

Angela Roberts, FLC Athletic Communications

Akuel Kot (22) steps back for a jump shot over a UCCS defender.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 1/6/2023 11:37:00 PM | Hayden Mangan, Athletic Communications Assistant

Kot’s 24-point performance gives No. 15/17 Skyhawks the edge over Mountain Lions

DURANGO, Colo. – Even while being out-shot from the field, Akuel Kot's 24-point night gave the No. 15/17 Fort Lewis College men's basketball team the edge it needed to best a taxing University of Colorado at Colorado Springs team 77-69 in a rousing Whalen Gymnasium Friday night.

The Skyhawks (12-1, 6-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) pick up its second-straight win and fifth-straight in Whalen Gymnasium this season. The Mountain Lions fall to 11-4 overall and 5-3 in RMAC play.

"We did not shoot the ball very well collectively as a group," head coach Bob Pietrack stated. "[UCCS] is an excellent basketball team evident by their record coming in at 11-3. This is a regional type of game and they're a team that will probably be in the regional. Defensively I thought we were really good. Limiting them to only four threes, a team that was making a lot of threes as we do. We simply made the big plays down the stretch, made the free-throws down the stretch, and the last six minutes of the game were ours."

It was a battle right from the start. Both sides exchanged mid-range jump shots to an even 9-9 split. From there UCCS began to put its foot on the gas and a layup from William Becker had the Mountain Lions ahead 18-11.

UCCS began to watch its lead fall and after back-to-back jump shots from Kot, Fort Lewis was back in front 30-27. The Skyhawks held on through the opening minutes, but another layup in the post from Jezza McKenzie pulled the Mountain Lions back within two just before the half, 34-32.

A pair of free throws rewarded to Beni Fungula allowed UCCS to recapture the lead 36-35 just a minute and 21 seconds into the second half. Unfortunately for the Mountain Lions, it would be its final lead of the night.

Brenden Boatwright dropped in a layup for the lead, and a fast-break slam dunk down an open lane on a steal just seconds later was all the momentum Fort Lewis needed to seal this game away. The Skyhawks stretched its lead out by as many as 11 after a mid-range jump shot from Obi Agbim to make it 56-45 and never allowed the Mountain Lions to come within any closer than three points for the remainder of the night.

Kot led all scorers tonight with 24 points, shooting 8-19 (42.1%) from the floor, 3-8 (37.5%) from the three-point line, and 5-7 (71.4%) at the free-throw line while supplying four rebounds and three steals.

Brendan La Rose tied his career-high with three blocks tonight, providing half of Fort Lewis' six total. Six blocks tonight is the highest for the Skyhawks since picking up six against Regis last season on Dec. 17, 2021.

UCCS out-shot Fort Lewis 41.4% (24-58) to 39.7% (27-68) from the floor. Both sides finished less than 30% from the three-point line, but FLC held the edge in made shots five to four.

NOTABLES
-Brendan La Rose matched his career-high with three blocks tonight.
-The Skyhawks 23 forced turnovers tonight is the most since forcing 23 against Colorado Mesa back on Jan. 29, 2021.
-Fort Lewis now owns a three-game winning streak over the Mountain Lions and has not lost to UCCS in Whalen Gymnasium since Jan. 11, 2019.
-Brenden Boatwright's two steals tonight matched his season high previously set against Eastern New Mexico in the season opener back on Nov. 11, 2022.
-The Skyhawks are now 5-0 at home this season.
-Obi Agbim's seven rebounds tonight matched his season-high previously set against Western Colorado back on Dec. 3, 2022.

REVENGE IS NEXT
Tomorrow night Fort Lewis will get a chance to avenge last year's season-ending loss dealt from the hands of the Regis Rangers. The Skyhawks and Rangers will tip off tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 7, at 7:00 p.m. following the women's game. Fort Lewis is celebrating Veterans and First Responders night so all veterans, first responders, and those in the armed forces will receive free admission to the game.

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