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Keither Florence vs. Regis
Chris Neal, Shooter Imaging
Keither Florence (20) slams it down over a Regis defender in Whalen Gymnasium (Dec. 7, 2024)

Men’s basketball to host Cowboys, challenge Grizzlies in split-week action

12/9/2024 11:00:00 AM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement
Fort Lewis vs. New Mexico Highlands
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m. | Whalen Gymnasium | Durango, Colo.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
 
Fort Lewis at Adams State
Thursday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. | Plachy Hall | Alamosa, Colo.
Watch | Live Stats | Tickets
 
DURANGO, Colo. – Fort Lewis men's basketball (5-5, 0-2 RMAC) looks to right the ship this week as the Skyhawks host New Mexico Highlands (6-3, 0-2 RMAC) on Tuesday before traveling to Adams State (4-5, 0-2 RMAC) on Thursday for the last pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games heading into the holiday break.
 
Canned Food and Toy Drive
Fans can receive free admission to Tuesday's Canned Food and Toy Drive game, presented by A&L Coors, by donating two non-perishable food items or one toy at the gate. Non-perishable food donations will go to the Fort Lewis College Grub Hub, while toy items will be donated to local Boys and Girls Clubs.
 
Skyhawks Leaders
Senior guard Biko Johnson remains Fort Lewis' leading scorer through the opening week of conference play. Johnson is shooting an effective 39.7 percent (50-126) from the field for 15.5 points per game while also hitting at 36.8 percent (21-57) clips from deep and adding 4.0 rebounds per game, 20 assists, and 13 steals. After putting up 22 points in an overtime loss to Regis (4-4, 2-0 RMAC), senior guard Tru Allen now chases Johnson with 13.0 points per game on 35.7 percent (40-112) shooting from the floor. Allen edges Johnson with 15 steals, but most notably, has dished out 35 assists this year which is good for 3.5 per game. Off the glass, senior forward Chuol Deng continues to lead the Skyhawks with 8.0 rebounds per game, which is the third-most in the RMAC, while also rounding out the roster as the third player to average double-figures with 10.7 points per game.
 
Defensive Pressure
Fort Lewis ranks seventh in defensive points per game among league opponents, holding its opposition to 69.9 points per contest. Turnovers play a major factor in the aforementioned result, and the Skyhawks have forced 20+ turnovers on four occasions, with all four coming in the past six games. Fort Lewis is also second in turnover margin at +5.1 per game, behind only New Mexico Highlands at +6.11 per game, ranks fourth in the league with 11.0 offensive rebounds per game, and leads the RMAC with 11.4 steals per game.
 
Welcome Back, Cowboys
New Mexico Highlands are no strangers to Whalen Gymnasium in 2024-25, as the Cowboys opened the season with an 84-83 neutral site win over Angelo State (5-2, 2-1 Lone Star Conference) back on Nov. 8 before falling 94-82 to Eastern New Mexico (6-2, 2-1 LSC) on Nov. 9. Since them, NMHU has won five of its last seven contests, going 0-2 in conference play thus far.
 
The Cowboys rank third in offense at 84.8 points per game while simultaneously ranking 14th in defense allowing 82.7 points per game. Much like Fort Lewis, creating turnovers is where NMHU excels forcing 17.2 per contest against 11.1 of its own.
 
Five Cowboys are averaging double figures this season, including Kenard Richardson (17.8), Blessin Kimble (11.3), Kyrie Thomas (10.9), KJ LaMonte (10.4), and TJ Sanchez (10.0). Richardson has been the go-to man across the board, however, as the six-foot-four senior has added 5.2 rebounds alongside 14 assists, 14 steals, and three blocks thus far. Richardson also leads the roster in shooting at 51.8 percent from the field. Thomas, however, has been the Cowboys' deep threat from beyond the arc with 23 treys thus far on 43.4 percent shooting.
 
Route 160 Rival
Adams State will welcome Fort Lewis for the Grizzlies' fourth consecutive home game on Thursday, with ASU getting an extra two days of rest with no game tomorrow night. Adams State has gone 1-2 during the home stretch, falling twice to open RMAC play.
 
The Grizzlies last win came by way of a 97-88 decision over Northern New Mexico (3-13), but have otherwise not defeated a Division II opponent since beating Cameron (3-5, 0-2 LSC) down in Oklahoma on Nov. 15. Among league opponents, ASU ranks second in offense (85.3 points per game) and last in defense (89.8 points per game).
 
Leading Adams State is two-time RMAC Offensive Player of the Week Jude Tapia. The five-foot-eleven junior leads the conference with 18.6 points per game on 46.2 percent (60-130) shooting while adding 4.1 turnovers, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Behind Tapia are Randle Ta'Veus (13.1), Luke Williams (11.0), and Wyatt Helming (10.8), to round out the Grizzlies' double-digit scorers.
 
Up Next
The Skyhawks will play one final non-conference game at home before heading into 2025, hosting No. 2/2 West Texas A&M (8-0, 3-0 LSC) on Friday, Dec. 20, for a noon tip-off as part of Fort Lewis' Field Trip Day presented by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad.
 
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