CSU Pueblo CSU-P 10-11,6-9 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC 19-2,13-2 RMAC

CSU Pueblo CSU-P

10-11,6-9 RMAC

Final

Feb. 03, 2023

Fort Lewis FLC

19-2,13-2 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
CSU Pueblo CSU-P	28	37	65
Fort Lewis FLC	29	39	68

Summary
Box Score

Hayden Mangan, Fort Lewis Athletic Communications

Akuel Kot (22) steps back over his defender for the bucket.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 2/3/2023 11:18:00 PM | Hayden Mangan, Athletic Communications Assistant

Kot’s heroics allows No. 13/14 Fort Lewis to escape CSU Pueblo 68-65 in final seconds

DURANGO, Colo. – Junior Akuel Kot scored 19 points tonight, but none were more important than his go-ahead three-pointer with four seconds left on the clock to lift the thirteenth-ranked Fort Lewis College men's basketball team (19-2 overall, 13-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) past Colorado State University-Pueblo (10-11, 6-9 RMAC) and notch head coach Bob Pietrack's 150th win with the program Friday night.

The Skyhawks and ThunderWolves were locked in a defensive stalemate from tip-off. The Pack found its biggest lead of the opening half on a three-pointer from Noble Robinson to push CSUP ahead 9-3.

Fort Lewis began to find somewhat of a stride, going on a 13-4 run capped off by an Obi Agbim mid-range jump shot for a 16-13 lead: the Skyhawks largest of the first half. Both sides exchanged blows without hesitation but after 10 of tonight's 17 total lead changes, Kot sank a pair of free throws to give FLC the 29-28 advantage heading into the locker room.

It was a slow start to the second half for CSU Pueblo and after back-to-back defensive stops JaQuaylon Mays buried a three-pointer from the top of the key for the Skyhawks largest lead of the night, 39-33.

Free throw troubles from Fort Lewis halted the offensive momentum, allowing the ThunderWolves to slowly cut into the deficit, and after a thunderous dunk from Isaiah Thompson, CSU Pueblo found itself with a one-point lead and 2:17 left in the contest.

Matching each other shot-for-shot, The Pack and Skyhawks saw three additional ties throughout the remainder of the game, eventually landing at 65-65 with just nine seconds remaining. Kot took the inbounds pass, saw an open space, and buried the go-ahead three-pointer from well beyond the arc to secure the win.

Kot matched Thompson with 19 points to lead all scorers in the contest. Mays supplied an additional 12 points with nine rebounds, just one shy of a double-double, while Agbim added 11 more.

Thompson notched a double-double for The Pack, grabbing 16 boards to compliment his 19 points, two assists, and one steal. The ThunderWolves had three additional players all finish with 10 points: Meekness Payne, Lian Ramiro, and Noble Robinson.

NOTABLES
-Akuel Kot has now made the go-ahead basket in back-to-back games (77-76 vs. MSU Denver on Jan. 28).
-Brenden Boatwright's 10 rebounds tonight marks just the second game this season with 10 or more.
-Fort Lewis has now five-straight games over CSU Pueblo and completed the season-sweep in back-to-back years.
-The Skyhawks 19-2 overall record continues to be the best in program history through as many games.
-Fort Lewis is now 18-0 this season when shooting 40.0 percent or better from the field and 9-2 when being out-shot by its opponent.

NEXT UP
Fort Lewis is back at home on Tuesday, Feb. 7, for a midweek matchup with the Adams State Grizzlies. It's a rivalry game and 'Pink Out' night presented by Centura Health, and there will be an opportunity to donate to the Mercy Breast Care Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

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