CSU Pueblo CSU-P 14-15,10-12 RMAC

102

Fort Lewis FLC 26-3,20-2 RMAC

CSU Pueblo CSU-P

14-15,10-12 RMAC

Final

Mar. 05, 2024

102

Fort Lewis FLC

26-3,20-2 RMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
CSU Pueblo CSU-P	50	46	96
Fort Lewis FLC	46	56	102

Summary
Box Score

Kaitlyn Silva

Obi Agbim (5) driving to the post as he scored his season-high 29 points against CSU Pueblo in the RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals in Whalen Gymnasium on Mar. 5, 2024.

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 3/5/2024 10:05:00 PM | Hayden Mangan, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

No. 6 Skyhawks erase 19-point deficit, overcome ThunderWolves 102-96 to advance to RMAC Semifinals

Fort Lewis secures unbeaten 16-0 home record

DURANGO, Colo. – It's officially March, and with it comes the madness of the ebbs and flows of collegiate basketball and tonight, sixth-ranked Fort Lewis (26-3), powered by a deafening crowd of 2,537, overcame its largest deficit this season to defeat CSU Pueblo (14-15) 102-96 and advance to the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament.

Obi Agbim, after struggling to shoot above 36.0 percent for his last four games, went off for a game-high and new season-high 29 points on the back of 11-22 shooting (50.0 percent) including 4-9 (44.4 percent) from beyond the arc while also recording team-highs in rebounds (7) and blocks (2) and adding a pair of assists and steals each.

CSU Pueblo was powered by a pair of 27-point and 24-point outings from Corbin Garver and Brevin Walter, respectively. De'Shaun Cooper provided 16 points before fouling out, Makiah Morris 13 points to pair with a team-high seven rebounds, and Armon Muldrew the final 11 points to round out members of The Pack to finish in double-figures.

The ThunderWolves caught the Skyhawks off guard in the opening minutes, holding shot-for-shot with the top-ranked home squad to an 11-11 tie before rifling off a 29-10 run to force Fort Lewis into its deepest hole of the season, 40-21. Agbim dialed up a big three, and the Skyhawks ran off on a 25-10 run of its own to cut the deficit to four points heading into the half.

Out of the locker room, The Pack showed no signs of bowing down and continued to hang tough with Fort Lewis, even weathering a thunderous Whalen Gymnasium that seemingly kept swinging momentum in favor of the Skyhawks. Despite taking the lead early into the second half, Fort Lewis found themselves hovering around a one-possession lead before CSUP recaptured the edge 93-92 with 2:39 left in the contest. In the waning minutes, it was FLC converting on seven of its final eight free throw attempts to seal the victory.

CSU Pueblo became just the second opponent this season to out-score Fort Lewis in bench points by a margin of 29-23. Both sides surrendered an identical 16 turnovers creating a near even 26-25 points scored off of turnovers with the advantage going to the Skyhawks. In addition, FLC out-shot CSUP 56.4 percent (31-55) to 49.2 percent (32-65) while tying its season-high with 30 made free throws.

Quotables
On tonight's win over CSU Pueblo:
"I'm very proud of our guys, we had a really tough stretch the first 12 minutes of the game and have not been in that position all year, period. We haven't been pinned like that at all, credit to CSU Pueblo for doing it. They played very well, they were very well prepared, and well coached. Really, really, proud of our team for showing that kind of toughness. It's one thing to be tough and together when things are going on easy street, it's a whole other thing to dig deep in the mud and get out of it." – Head Coach Bob Pietrack

On his five-year career, going 16-0 at home, and the home crowd in Whalen Gymnasium:
"It's pretty awesome man. Just to see the atmosphere in here change so severely, and on top of that to go undefeated (at home) in my senior year, it's an honor and a blessing. I'm just thankful for the fans and I wish we had another opportunity to play in front of them again. It's been super awesome and I'm super thankful." – Senior guard Junior Garbrah

On his season-high 29-point performance:
"It's win or go home; I'm playing every game like it's my last. I just try to do what I can and be my best every time for the team." – Junior guard Obi Agbim

Notables
-Fort Lewis is now 59-49 all-time against CSU Pueblo and leads the ThunderWolves 37-15 at home and has won eight straight matchups: 10 straight in Whalen Gymnasium.
-The Skyhawks' 19-point deficit tonight marks its largest of the season.
-FLC is heading to the RMAC Tournament Semifinals in Grand Junction, Colo., for the second-straight season and has won back-to-back RMAC Tournament Quarterfinal games at home in Whalen Gymnasium.
-Obi Agbim's 29 points is his most in a Skyhawks uniform, second-most in his career (32 points for Northeastern Junior College against Lamar Community College on Jan. 1, 2022).
-Obi Agbim's two blocks tie his career-high which he reached back on Dec. 8, 2023, in a 91-77 victory over New Mexico Highlands).
-Junior Garbrah's 19 points mark his fifth highest-scoring game of the season.
-Fort Lewis is now 18-0 when at least four Skyhawks finish in double-figure scoring.
-The Skyhawks were outscored in bench points for just the second time all season.
-Jhei-R Jones matched his season-high with five assists.
-Fort Lewis' 16 turnovers are tied for the third-most in a single game this season.
-FLC is now 28-2 at home in Whalen Gymnasium through the last two seasons including both RMAC Tournament Quarterfinal games.

Third Time the Charm
For the second time in a week, Fort Lewis will line up opposite No. 21-ranked Colorado School of Mines (24-7), this time in the RMAC Tournament Semifinals to be hosted by top-seeded Colorado Mesa (26-3) in Brownson Arena this Friday, Mar. 8. Official game times have yet to be announced.

Print Friendly Version