Just when it looked like Fort Lewis College would cruise to a comfortable win, an 8-0 run by CSU-Pueblo changed the complexion of the game.
Leading 60-48 with 7 minutes, 22 seconds left, the FLC men’s basketball team let the ThunderWolves right back in the game with a scoring run.
But FLC came through with big baskets and rebounds down the stretch, holding off the pesky CSU-Pueblo team for a 76-70 win, the Skyhawks’ first of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule.
“It’s a huge win. Anytime you can win on the road in this league, it’s enormous,” FLC associate head coach Bob Pietrack said. “Considering (Friday) night and how much energy we expended trying to come back against UCCS, it was a gutty team win. A win like this is character-building.”
FLC improved to 6-2 and 1-1 in the RMAC, while CSU-Pueblo dropped to 4-3 and 1-1 in the conference.
With its lead down to 62-60, FLC star center Alex Herrera came through with a big dunk. Redshirt junior Jared Smith extended the lead on a clutch 3-point basket, and redshirt fresman guard Rasmus Bach hit a jumper to make it a 71-65 game.
With 31 seconds to play, Smith came up with a big rebound, and guard Will Morse found Bach for an easy layup to ice the game.
Bach finished with 18 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Herrera had a game-high 22 points and finished with seven rebounds, ending his double-double streak at seven games. Smith also added 12 points and seven rebounds.
“Jared Smith brings the energy every night, and his last 3 was massive. He hit four of them, but that last one gave us the space we needed,” Pietrack said. “Rasmus had two big games in back-to-back nights.”
Both teams struggled shooting in the first half. The Skyhawks shot just 37.5 percent but rallied to finish at 50 percent. The ThunderWolves shot 26.5 percent from the field in the first half and 34.7 percent overall in the game.
Morse came through with 11 points, a team-high four assists and three rebounds.
A shallow FLC bench was outscored 20-10 in the game, but all eight FLC players who played scored.
“It’s a total team win. A tough game on the road after a loss, a gut-check win. It was a program win. We needed everyone,” Pietrack said. “What a win for the ’Hawks.”
Jed Knafelc tried to spark the CSU-Pueblo comeback with 16 points and six rebounds. Bronson Moton had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Rico Spikes added 12 points and six boards.
FLC will return home for a 3 p.m. Saturday game against Adams State.
“We hope to build on this win going into a tough game with a rival in Adams State,” Pietrack said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
