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Cassius Carmichael vs. Carson-Newman
Hayden Mangan, Fort Lewis Athletic Communications
Cassius Carmichael (10) drives to the bucket against the Eagles in the George W. Jenkins Field House (Nov. 3, 2024)

Greyhounds, Rams come to town as No. 22 Fort Lewis hosts conference crossover

11/7/2024 11:00:00 AM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement
No. 22 Fort Lewis vs. Eastern New Mexico
Friday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. | Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
 
No. 22 Fort Lewis vs. Angelo State
Saturday, Nov. 9, 8 p.m. | Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
 
DURANGO, Colo. – The 2024-25 Fort Lewis men's basketball team (0-2) will make its season debut at home this Friday and Saturday as the Skyhawks host Eastern New Mexico (0-0), Angelo State (0-0), and fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member New Mexico Highlands (0-0), for a conference crossover up on the rim.

Saddle Up, Cowboy
The Cowboys from New Mexico Highlands will be in Durango for a pair of neutral-site contests with Eastern New Mexico and Angelo State alongside the Skyhawks. NMHU will take on ASU in the second game of the day on Friday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. and ENMU in the second game of the day once more on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 4 p.m.
 
Knowing What It Takes
Last weekend, the Skyhawks made the program's first-ever appearance as the 43rd overall institution to take part in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. While Fort Lewis returned with a pair of 80-69 and 94-75 losses to Point Loma Nazarene (2-0) and Carson-Newman (1-1), who both received votes on the National Association of Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll, the squad soaked in a weekend full of high-caliber Division II basketball that featured eight of the top programs from around the country including 2023-24 National Champions Minnesota State and 2022-23 National Champions Nova Southeastern.
 
Double Deng
Senior forward Chuol Deng had quite the impressive weekend down in the Sunshine State as the six-foot-seven forward, and recent transfer from Oakland University, kicked off the season with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double before following it up with a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double against the Eagles. In just two games, Deng has racked up 39 points on 15-of-35 (42.9 percent) shooting while hauling in 22 rebounds, picking up six steals, dishing out four assists, and blocking two shots.
 
Steady Contributors
Alongside Deng, four additional Skyhawks have gone for double-figures thus far, led by senior guard Biko Johnson, who matched Deng with a 21-point outing of his own against C-NU on an even 50.0 percent (8-16) shooting with a trio of three-pointers. Tru Allen also finished with 11 points against the Eagles and handed out four assists while picking up three rebounds and a steal. In the season-opener, Malachai Coleman and Keither Florence each put up 11 points, with Florence adding seven rebounds as well.
 
Greyhounds At The Buzzer
Last season, Eastern New Mexico made its third-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament following a stunning 91-88 win over Lubbock Christian as time expired on a three-point prayer from Lyron Bennett. ENMU went on to fall to Colorado Mesa, 99-75, in the opening round. Since then, the Greyhounds have the reigns of the program to Daven Võ, a former associate head coach at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
 
Senior forward Mario Whitley is the lead returner for the Greyhounds as the Saginaw, Michigan, native averaged 10.9 points on 50.6 percent shooting from the field last season. Whitley also added a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game in addition to 51 steals and 13 blocked shots. Jose Murillo is the only other player returning to ENMU who saw the court last season.
 
Rumbling Rams
Angelo State is coming off a 19-11 season that saw the Rams make its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, with ASU falling in the opening round each time. Angelo State closed out the year with back-to-back losses to conference opponents falling to would-be Lone Star Conference Tournament Champions Eastern New Mexico 103-84 in the first round before dropping an 81-66 contest to West Texas A&M in the south-central regional.
 
The Rams graduated its top four scorers from a season ago, leaving the offense in the hands of senior forward Shemar Smith. The six-foot-seven product of Norman, Oklahoma, averaged 7.0 points and 5.9 rebounds in 25.7 minutes last season. Smith shot an effective 46.5 percent from the floor and knocked down just nine threes across the year. As a unit, Angelo State had averaged 79.4 points per game while holding opponents to 77.6 on 43.4 percent shooting.
 
Skyhawks Hardwood Classic
The Skyhawks home stand continues next weekend as Fort Lewis hosts Western New Mexico and Northern New Mexico College for its annual Skyhawks Hardwood Classic. FLC will kick off the weekend with a noon matchup against WNMU on Friday, Nov. 15, before taking on NNMC on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. Colorado Mesa will also play both opponents in a pair of neutral-site contests.  
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