The Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team is heading into the holiday break on a roll.
Five players finished in double figures for Fort Lewis, as the Skyhawks won their fourth consecutive game. FLC led for the duration in Saturday’s 85-75 win against Western State one night after a big road win at CSU-Pueblo. The back-to-back road wins pushed the Skyhawks’ overall record to 9-1. It is the first time in the history of Fort Lewis College (9-1, 4-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) basketball that the team has won nine games before Christmas.
“We’re really proud of these guys for the way they played coming off an emotional, tiring win (Friday),” Fort Lewis head coach Bob Pietrack said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “The fact that we led wire-to-wire speaks volumes about the depth and the character of this team.”
FLC’s starting point guard Joshua Blaylock put in another impressive night of work Saturday logging 37 minutes on the floor and leading all scorers with 21 points.
“He’s not allowed to get tired,” Pietrack joked when talking about Blaylock.
Will Morse and Cade Kloster each had 16 points. Rasmus Bach finished with 12 points, and Kody Salcido contributed 24 helpful minutes off the bench and piled up 12 points along with a team-leading seven rebounds.
As it has all season, Fort Lewis’ defense was instrumental in the win. The Skyhawks held Western State under 30 points in the first half and headed to locker room with a seven-point lead.
With some tired legs from Friday’s game and a few nagging injuries plaguing the Skyhawks, Pietrack went to his bench, and the role players responded with the grit and toughness that has defined this team thus far.
Salcido was particularly special Saturday night.
The senior filled in down low for Austin Haldorson and came up with some huge baskets when the Mountaineers were trying to pry their way back into the contest. Late in the second half, Western State cut the FLC lead to three points, but Salcido wouldn’t let the home team get any closer. He got the ball in the paint and took on three Mountaineers before finishing strong and adding a foul shot. The 3-point play made it a two-possession game and Western State (2-9, 1-4 RMAC) never got within striking distance again.
“Kody represents everything that’s right with DivisionII basketball,” Pietrack said. “He’s a red-shirted, fifth-year senior, and here he is as a major contributor in two big road wins. He’s an old-school, blue-collar, lunch pail, throwback kind of player, and he’s a joy to be around.”
At 9-1 and 4-1 in the gauntlet that is the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men’s basketball schedule, Fort Lewis should get some recognition and a boost in the regional and national polls in two weeks when the new rankings are revealed. Though they might not want to step off the court on the streak they’re on, some much needed rest will only strengthen a squad that is making some early-season noise around the RMAC.
“I’d love to keep playing considering the way we’ve been playing, but, most importantly, I think these guys need a break from me,” Pietrack said. “In all honesty, we need the rest, but we have some big games coming up after the break. With the students at home, I hope the town can come out give us some support on Jan. 1 and 2.”
Fort Lewis hopes to pick up where they left off with a 2 p.m. New Year’s Day matchup with UC-Colorado Springs before facing perennial powerhouse Metro State on Jan. 2.
jfries@durangoherald.com
