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Brenden Boatwright vs Black Hills State - Feb 13, 2023
JoJo Lutz, Fort Lewis Athletic Communications
Brenden Boatwright (33) drains a three from the corner.

Men's Basketball Hayden Mangan, Athletic Communications Assistant

No. 9/11 Men’s basketball heads north for final road contests

DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College men's basketball team (22-2 overall, 16-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) is off on its final road trip of the season taking on second-ranked Black Hills State University (22-2, 16-2 RMAC) and South Dakota Mines (8-16, 7-11 RMAC) in a pair of contests held in The Mount Rushmore State.
 
On Friday, Feb. 17, Fort Lewis will go toe-to-toe for round two with the No. 2/3 Yellow Jackets inside the Donald E. Young Center. The opening tip-off is scheduled 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 18, the Skyhawks and Hardrockers are slated for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off inside the King Center. Both games will be available for free on the RMAC Network.
 
LOOKING BACK
Last week saw the Skyhawks compete in a rare, Friday/Monday slate. Fort Lewis opened the week at Western Colorado (3-19, 1-17 RMAC), taking down the Mountaineers 82-77 and completing the season sweep. Akuel Kot scored 38 points to help hold down Western's second-half surge.
 
On Monday, Fort Lewis welcomed previously No. 3/3 Black Hills State for the first-ever top-ten matchup inside Whalen Gymnasium. The Skyhawks caught the Yellow Jackets flat-footed, running out to a 55-point first half – the largest allowed by BHSU this season – and not allowing Black Hills to close the gap any further than seven points late in the second half. Fort Lewis emerged with the 88-78 win, knotting the Skyhawks and Yellow Jackets in a tie for first place in conference standings.
 
SCOUTING THE No. 2/3 YELLOW JACKETS
Whereas the Skyhawks rank 14th in the country for offensive points per game with 85.3, Black Hills State boasts the 33rd-ranked defensive in the country allowing opponents just 65.9 points per game. The Yellow Jackets also rank 8th in the country in final score margin at 15.7 point differential.
 
Thanks to the Skyhawks win over BHSU at home last Monday, both Fort Lewis and Black Hills State now sit as two of just eight teams in the country with two losses or fewer. Leading BHSU is 2021-22 All-American and six-foot-seven senior forward Joel Scott. Scott is averaging 22.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game while also leading the roster with 26 blocks.
 
In round one between the two heavyweights on Monday, the Yellow Jackets finished 48.5 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from the three-point line, and just 37.5 percent from the free-throw line. Scott paved the way with a 26-point, 11-rebound double-double while Adam Moussa provided an additional 19 points and Caelin Hearne another 12. Black Hills State also gave up 12 turnovers to the Skyhawks nine and scored just 15 points off of the bench.
 
SCOUTING THE HARDROCKERS
South Dakota Mines is riding high on a two-game win streak and will be out for revenge after Fort Lewis downed the Hardrockers at home 93-82 earlier this season. On Friday, however, SDM will host a home matchup against Adams State University (5-19, 3-15 RMAC).
 
In the previous meeting between the Skyhawks and Hardrockers, Fort Lewis outscored the South Dakota foe 45-24 in the opening half while limiting the opposition to just 25.0 percent shooting from the field. The Hardrockers had a dominant second half, outscoring the Skyhawks 58-48. South Dakota Mines had five individuals finish in double figures led by Brevin Walter with 19 points.
 
Over the last two games, South Dakota Mines has seen 20-point performances from three individuals: Brevin with 24 points against Regis University, Alejandro Rama with 29 points against Regis, and Kolton Frugoli with 21 points against the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. The Hardrockers have also shot 48.4 and 39.7 percent from the field and above 93.0 percent at the free-throw line in both of its previous two contests.
 
FINAL HOMESTAND AHEAD
Next week Fort Lewis will return to Whalen Gymnasium one final time to close out the regular season with a pair of home contests against Metropolitan State University of Denver (10-14, 7-11 RMAC) and 19th-ranked Colorado School of Mines (20-4, 14-4 RMAC). Friday's matchup against MSU Denver will be themed 9R Night, while Saturday's game against Mines will be featured as both Senior Night and Beach Out Night.
 
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Players Mentioned

Akuel Kot

#22 Akuel Kot

G
6' 2"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Akuel Kot

#22 Akuel Kot

6' 2"
Junior
G