The last time there was a white-out at Whalen Gymnasium, the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks pulled off one of their biggest wins in program history.
Just shy of the two-year anniversary of that day, the Skyhawks are hoping to cook up some more magic.
FLC is set to welcome No. 9 Metro State (21-3, 16-2 RMAC) to campus for a high-stakes clash of two of the most talented teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
“Their program has been so great over the years. We’ve always looked forward to playing them,” FLC head coach Bob Hofman said of the Division II powerhouse. “We respect their program, and it’s always exciting.”
FLC (17-7, 12-6 RMAC) is planning a “white-out” for the 7:30 p.m. Friday game, with fans encouraged to wear white shirts and the first 500 fans through the doors receiving a complimentary white shirt for the occasion.
The Skyhawks did the same on Feb. 22, 2013, and FLC upset then No. 1 and previously unbeaten Metro State 61-54. The result was a court-storming that will live on in the minds of those in attendance forever.
The Roadrunners went on the finish runner-up in the NCAA Division II tournament that season.
The storyline admittedly is different this time around. Gone is Metro State star Brandon Jefferson, and a new group of star players will share the floor, led by FLC senior center Alex Herrera.
Herrera leads the country in total blocked shots and free-throw attempts, is second in double-doubles and free throws made, seventh in total rebounds and eighth in points per game.
The All-American from Ignacio is playing in his final two regular-season home games this weekend, capping off a career in which fans watched him grow from a young kid from Ignacio to one of the best players in all of Division II basketball.
“Alex brings it every day in practice and every game,” Hofman said of his star. “The superlatives could be piled on for the way he’s played this year. I can’t say enough for him and about him.”
Herrera and the Skyhawks will look for redemption after their worst road loss of the season at Metro State on Jan. 17 – an 87-51 game the Roadrunners controlled start to finish. Herrera had 17 points and was limited to a season-low six rebounds in that contest. FLC shot only 30.2 percent from the field in that game, while Metro State shot 47.5 percent behind senior guard Mitch McCarron’s 31-point night. McCarron, who is 17th in Division II in points per game with 21.5, has been a dominant force all season for the Roadrunners. He leads the RMAC in minutes per game at 37.1.
“McCarron is just a great end-line-to-end-line offensive player,” Hofman said. “He does a tremendous job reading defenses and passing, taking the ball himself or pulling it up. It’s a team matchup for us trying to defend him, not just one guy.”
Senior forward Nicholas Kay also helps the Roadrunners, averaging 19.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Rebounding will be a big key in the game, as FLC is the No. 1 rebounding offense in the conference at 37.7 per game, and Metro State is the No. 1 rebounding defense, holding opponents to 28.3 per game.
The Roadrunners also are the No. 1 scoring defense in the league, holding teams to 59.6 points per game. FLC is the No. 3 scoring offense at 81.4 points per contest.
Metro State is second in the first NCAA Division II South Central Region poll. The top-eight teams in the region make the regional tournament following the end of the conference tournament. FLC enters this weekend ranked No. 9 in the regional poll.
The Roadrunners have won nine games in a row and have three wins against top-10 teams.
FLC has gone the other way over its past five games, losing three, including two home games last weekend against CSU-Pueblo and No. 20 UC-Colorado Springs.
With the recent struggles, FLC isn’t reminiscing on its lopsided loss at Metro State earlier this season. Instead, its trying to focus on getting healthy and prepared for Friday’s new challenge.
Three guards all have been dealing with various ailments for FLC for weeks.
“This past weekend, a lot of the depth problems caught up with us with injuries and illness,” Hofman said. “We’re trying to find a balance in practice between giving them rest and continuing to get better and play harder.
“You can’t make excuses, but you do have to recognize the fine line between pushing them too hard and not pushing them enough.”
FLC badly needs wins with only four games to play in the regular season. The Skyhawks already clinched a spot in the RMAC Shootout, but at sixth place in the current standings they would have to go on the road in the first round of the conference tournament. However, FLC is one game out of fourth and earning a home game.
Metro State, on the other hand, is looking to host the RMAC Shootout throughout by earning the top-seed, and a strong finish could get Metro State up to first in the regional rankings and in position to host the regional tournament.
Hofman isn’t sure how his team will respond this week after two tough home losses last weekend, but with Metro State in the building, he hopes his team finds the right energy.
“Metro State always brings the people to the game,” Hofman said. “How we respond is yet to be determined. Because of the injuries and illness, we haven’t practiced as intensely or had as much enthusiasm as maybe as I would like. Hopefully we find a new level and will be prepared to compete hard Friday.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
