Fort Lewis FLC 5-1,1-0 RMAC

Western Colo. WC 3-5,1-1 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC

5-1,1-0 RMAC

Final

Dec. 02, 2023

Western Colo. WC

3-5,1-1 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Fort Lewis FLC	46	39	85
Western Colo. WC	30	25	55

Summary
Box Score

Kaitlyn Silva

Brayden Carter (32) has now scored or rebounded in double figures of every game this season.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 12/2/2023 7:39:00 PM | Hayden Mangan, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Post-play guides No. 20 Fort Lewis to dominant 85-55 win over Western Colorado in conference opener

GUNNISON, Colo. – Four Skyhawks finished in double figures, but it was 46 points in the paint that propelled the 20^th-ranked Fort Lewis men's basketball to a 30-point victory over Western Colorado University in the Skyhawks' opening night of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play Saturday night in the highest collegiate gymnasium in the country.

Fort Lewis moves to 5-1 on the season and is now 1-0 in conference play while Western Colorado falls to 3-5 on the year and an even 1-1 in the RMAC games.

"It's always a great feeling to go on the road in the RMAC and leave with a win," head coach Bob Pietrack shared. "We had a ton of success in the post but I'm more excited about forcing the 21 turnovers and keeping them (Western Colorado) out of sync tonight. Our guys were really focused on putting together a better second half tonight and I believe it showed with our ability to keep them out of their system."

The Skyhawks had seemingly no weakness in the paint, tallying 46 of its 85 total points (54 percent) while limiting the Mountaineers to 14 points down low. In addition, Coach Pietrack's no-starters style of offense produced 52 points off the bench compared to WCU's 30.

Brayden Carter scored a season-high 16 points to lead Fort Lewis' offense while hauling in six rebounds and nabbing both an assist and a block. Tristan Hurdle added 14 points and Samier Kinsler and Malik Whitaker added another 12 points each as the Skyhawks shot 51.5 percent from the field on the night while knocking down eight threes. Kinsler also set a season-high and tied his career-high with three steals.

Amar Rivers led Western Colorado with nine points as no single Mountaineer finished the game in double figures. Eight individuals tallied at least five points and Avery Rembao, Jamel Hollins, and Trevin Leick each brought down five rebounds.

Western Colorado jumped out to the early lead after knocking down three straight three-point jumpers and adding a thunderous dunk for a five-point advantage. Hurdle flipped the scales 13-11 in favor of FLC with a trey at the 13-minute mark and Fort Lewis never looked back. The Skyhawks went into halftime with a 16-point cushion before dominating the second half on all facets to end the game with Fort Lewis' largest lead in a game since Mar. 11, 2023.

Notables
-FLC is now 86-40 all-time over WCU and 29-22 in Gunnison, Colo.
-Fort Lewis moves to 3-0 this season when four individuals score in double figures.
-Kinsler tied his career-high tonight with three steals.
-With his season-high 16 points tonight, Carter has either scored or rebounded in double figures of every game this season.
-The Skyhawks forced 20+ turnovers for the second-straight game and third time this season.

Rivalry Night
Fort Lewis returns to Whalen Gymnasium to host Adams State University (2-5, 0-1 RMAC) for a rivalry matchup on Tuesday, Dec. 5. The Skyhawks and Grizzlies will tip-off at 5:00 p.m. as Fort Lewis looks for its fourth-straight win over its Route 160 rival.

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