Kaitlyn Silva

Stewart Erhart (22) drives to the basket against the Cowboys in Whalen Gymnasium (Dec. 10, 2024).

Mountaineers, Griffins await Skyhawks in return to conference play

1/8/2025 12:00:00 PM

By: Hayden Mangan, Assistant AD-Communications & Fan Engagement

DURANGO, Colo. – The Fort Lewis men's basketball team (8-5, 2-2 RMAC) will return to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play for the first time in 2025 this Thursday and Saturday with a pair of road trips to Western Colorado (4-7, 2-2 RMAC) and Westminster (7-5, 1-3 RMAC).

Raising The Bar
The Skyhawks are flying high after capturing a gritty 76-69 victory over No. 8/4 West Texas A&M (9-4, 4-3 LSC) back on Dec. 20. Fort Lewis, led by Week 7 RMAC Offensive Player of the Week Biko Johnson who had 27 points, fought through 15 lead changes to pull away in the final minute of competition and earn its first win over a top 25 ranked opponent this season. The week prior, FLC had downed New Mexico Highlands (7-5, 0-4 RMAC) and Adams State (6-6, 1-3 RMAC) by scores of 80-77 and 88-71, respectively, climbing to an even 2-2 in league play.

Ball Control
Defense has been a staple for the Skyhawks in 2024-25, with the team holding opponents to 70.5 points per game, a mark good for the eighth-best defense in the conference. However, causing chaos is where Fort Lewis shines as FLC ranks 11^th in steals per game (11.6), 14^th in turnovers forced per game (19.5), and 20^th in turnover margin (+4.9) across all of NCAA Division II. In addition, redshirt freshman Stewart Erhart leads the RMAC in steals per game with 2.0.

Double Figures
Fort Lewis' offense is spearheaded by the triple threat of Johnson, Tru Allen, and Chuol Deng. Johnson leads the Skyhawks with 16.2 points per game and, most notably, can attack the basket at all three levels. Allen sits just behind Johnson with 13.0 points per game, and while skilled enough to get downhill and to the free throw line, he also leads the roster with 3.1 assists per contest. Deng has been another key factor for the Skyhawks, causing havoc on both ends of the floor with 12.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Deng ranks third in rebounds and first in total blocks (20) in the RMAC.

Scouting the Mountaineers
Western Colorado carries a 4-7 overall record and a 2-2 league record into 2025. The Mountaineers closed out 2024 with a buzzer-beating 76-75 win over Regis (5-7, 3-1 RMAC), but most recently, dropped a 77-66 decision to UCCS (9-4, 3-2 RMAC) to start the new year.

The Mountaineers currently sit 12^th in offensive points per game (72.1) and 11^th in defensive points per game (73.9) among league opponents. Senior Kade Juelfs leads a trio of double-digit scorers with 12.6 points per game, adding 22 rebounds, 21 assists, and 10 steals. Senior Amar Rivers adds 11.3 points and 4.4 rebounds, while sophomore Tyler Halligan supplies another 10.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game to round out the WCU's double-digit scorers.

Scouting the Griffins
Westminster boasts a 7-5 overall record and a 1-3 mark in conference play but has lost three of its last four games. Most recently, the Griffins fell 78-61 to No. 23/T-24 MSU Denver (10-2, 4-0 RMAC) and 85-64 to No. 10/11 Colorado School of Mines (10-2, 4-0 RMAC) back on Dec. 14 and 16, respectively.

Senior Chase Potter averages 14.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game to lead a Griffins roster that ranks seventh in offense (76.3) and defense (70.2) in the RMAC. Behind Potter, junior Simon Akena has averaged 14.3 points on 50 percent shooting. In addition, fifth-year Donaval Avila and sophomore Parker Christensen have averaged 10.3 and 10.0 points per game, respectively, to give WU four double-digit scorers.

Up Next
Fort Lewis is back at home next week to host South Dakota Mines (1-11, 1-3 RMAC) on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m., followed by Black Hills State (7-5, 3-1 RMAC) on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 3 p.m.

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Mountaineers, Griffins await Skyhawks in return to conference play