Colorado Mesa CMU 29-4,21-1 RMAC

Fort Lewis FLC 29-4,20-2 RMAC

Colorado Mesa CMU

29-4,21-1 RMAC

Final

Mar. 17, 2024

Fort Lewis FLC

29-4,20-2 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Colorado Mesa CMU	43	42	85
Fort Lewis FLC	38	42	80

Summary
Box Score

Hayden Mangan, Fort Lewis Athletic Communications

Junior Garbrah (3) pulls up for a mid-range jumper against No. 6/6 Colorado Mesa in the South Central Regional Semifinals at First United Bank Center in Canyon, Texas, on Mar. 17, 2024.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 3/17/2024 8:17:00 PM | Hayden Mangan, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Fort Lewis’ season ends in South-Central Regional Semifinals

Skyhawks match the program’s winningest season at 29-4 overall

CANYON, Texas – Another historic season of Skyhawks basketball came to a close Sunday evening at First Bank United Center as No. 5-ranked Fort Lewis (29-4) fell to No. 6-ranked Colorado Mesa (29-4), 85-80, in the round of 32 in the NCAA DII Men's Basketball Tournament.

In the third matchup of the season between the Skyhawks and Mavericks, it was CMU who emerged victorious on the back of a slight advantage in shooting from the floor 45.9 percent (28-61) to 45.8 percent (27-59), firing off at 34.3 percent (12-35) against 25.0 percent (5-20) from the three-point line and a rebounding effort that edged FLC 37-31.

Obi Agbim led Fort Lewis with a team-high 17 points on 6-16 (37.5 percent) shooting while Malik Whitaker finished with 12 points and five rebounds, Samier Kinsler added another 11 points, and Sekou Dembele the final 10 to round off the Skyhawks to finish in double-figure scoring.

On the flip side, Colorado Mesa was guided by Owen Koonce who racked up a game-high 20 points with six rebounds, two steals, and a block and an assist. Isaac Jessup supplied 17 points, and RMAC Player of the Year Trevor Baskin added a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double. Christopher Speller scored an additional 16 points to pair with Reece Johnson's 12-point night to cap off the five Mavs to finish with double-digit scoring performances.

It was nearly a tale of two halves or possibly a last-second shot as Fort Lewis matched Colorado Mesa with 42 points in the second half but trailed CMU by a five-point deficit heading into halftime. The Skyhawks led the Mavericks in points in the paint 30-24 and bench points 33-6, but it was CMU's ability to beat FLC in fast-break points 11-8 and second-chance points 14-9 that proved the difference maker.

Both sides exchanged 19 lead changes in what will stand as a college basketball classic, with the Mavericks taking the final lead change 81-80 on a three-pointer from Jessup with 35 seconds remaining in the game. The Skyhawks fell cold in the final seconds, missing back-to-back jumpers including a trey with three seconds remaining while trailing just 83-80.

Quotables
On tonight's loss to Colorado Mesa:
"I thought that was a fantastic college basketball game, nobody deserved to lose, but unfortunately someone has to and that's sports. I'm incredibly proud of our program for the year we had. It stinks to be short, but there's a lot to be proud of, and a lot of great accomplishments this year for the Skyhawks." – Head coach Bob Pietrack

On his two seasons at Fort Lewis:
"Honestly, it's been great. I took a break due to injury at the beginning of my college career, but these coaches really trusted me and gave me a chance. To be a part of two really great teams, I'm just grateful for the opportunity. It doesn't feel good ending it this way, but thank you coach, and thank you, Fort Lewis." – Senior center Sekou Dembele

On his five-year career as a Skyhawk:
"It's insane when I step back and look at my career as a whole. I had no offers, Coach P took a chance on me, things didn't go the way I envisioned, by God's grace I ended up back on the squad, then it led to two great seasons, I'm truly grateful. Throughout my entire career, I just tried to be selfless and be a leader. I was never asked to be a leader, but the coaches recognized that I'm one of those guys that comes in and tries to get work done. (Coach Pietrack) blessed me with that responsibility. It was a tough challenge leading a group of new players, I'm just thankful that everyone bought in, believed in me, believed in the coaching staff, and believed in what we tried to establish as a culture. I just want to thank Coach P, Coach Ty, Coach Stapleton, Coach Jim, and Travis; I want to thank everyone who really had an impact on my Fort Lewis career, truly. Just blessed to be in this situation. It wasn't the outcome we wanted, but overall, I'm thankful for it all." – Senior guard Junior Garbrah

Notables
-Fort Lewis matches the 2022-23 season for the winningest record in program history at 29-4.
-The Skyhawks are 58-8 overall, 39-5 in conference play, 28-2 at home, 21-3 on the road, and 9-3 at neutral sites over the last two seasons.
-Head coach Bob Pietrack moves to 189-75 in his nine seasons at the program's helm. His .716 winning percentage is the highest of any men's basketball coach in program history.
-Fort Lewis trails Colorado Mesa 64-46 in the all-time series and 3-2 at neutral sites.
-The Skyhawks have advanced to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons.
-Obi Agbim led Fort Lewis in scoring through its final eight games.
-Four or more Skyhawks finished in double figures for the 21^st time this season.
-This season FLC captured its eighth RMAC Tournament Championship and made the program's 13^th NCAA Tournament Appearance.
-Fort Lewis graduated three seniors including Junior Garbrah, Sekou Dembele, and Malik Whitaker.

Thank You
It was a season to remember in Whalen Gymnasium as Fort Lewis, across all of NCAA DII, finished second in total attendance (32,178), second in percent capacity (73.13 percent), and third in average attendance as one of three programs to average 2,000 or more fans per game (2,011). The Skyhawks now turn the page and look ahead to the 2024-25 season beginning next fall.

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