Hot 3-point shooting in the first half paired with a solid defensive second half delivered a big road trip sweep for the Skyhawks.
The Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team traveled to Black Hills State in Spearfish, South Dakota, on Saturday night looking to swat the Yellow Jackets after handling the Chadron State Eagles on Friday in Nebraska.
FLC (10-3, 5-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) did just that, as senior center Alex Herrera of Ignacio recorded his 10th double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Along with big efforts from junior guard Cade Kloster and redshirt freshman guard Rasmus Bach, Herrera helped carry FLC to a 75-63 win.
“You can’t argue with winning and sweeping a road trip, especially considering how tough they are at home,” FLC associate head coach Bob Pietrack said of the Yellow Jackets. “Considering how long this trip is on back-to-back nights, the program is pleased with two victories.”
Kloster and FLC opened the game on fire from 3-point land. The Skyhawks made all six of their opening attempts from 3, including a 3-for-3 effort from Kloster, who finished with 17 points on a 6-of-7 shooting night from the field.
“Cade stepped up both nights. He had three big home games in a row and carried it over to the road,” Pietrack said. “He’s a fourth-year junior that’s been a part of the program and has taken steps to become the player he is. He’s developed and is confident, and he’s become a full-fledged ’Hawk.”
Still, the Yellow Jackets (4-10, 2-6 RMAC) kept it close, trailing 38-34 at halftime and getting within one point at 42-41 with 16 minutes to play.
But the Skyhawks got timely contributions from the entire team, including four consecutive points from bench forward Austin Haldorson during a two-minute stretch in which Herrera received some rest on the bench. Haldorson’s layup and two free throws helped give FLC a 49-44 lead with 11:43 to play.
Black Hills State again drew close to make the deficit 53-50 after Kloster was whistled for a technical foul with under 10 minutes to play.
But Bach got hot in the final seven minutes, scoring seven of his 14 points during that stretch. He also had five assists and five rebounds.
“(Bach) has stepped up a lot in second halves this year. He missed two free throws, and you could see him get more determined. He helped us close this game big-time with rebounds, too.”
Solid free-throw shooting down the stretch helped FLC grow the lead. The Skyhawks finished 23-of-30 from the line in the game and shot 52.3 percent from the field.
That shooting performance came a night after FLC shot better than 60 percent at Chadron State.
“We had a really good rhythm of the offense in the second half. Sharing the basketball was much better for us in the second half, and that’s what we’re most pleased about,” Pietrack said.
Miles Henry led Black Hills with 14 points, and Riley Ryan added 12 points off the bench.
Led by Herrera, FLC dominated the boards, outrebounding its opponent 39-27. FLC held Black Hills to only 29 points in the second half.
“You have to guard to win games in this league,” Pietrack said. “It’s all about clean games defensively for 40 minutes. Getting stops and playing with urgency is gonna be a theme.”
FLC will return home to play four of its next six games inside Whalen Gymnasium, beginning with New Mexico Highlands at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
“We’re very excited to get back home. This is a long trip for us, and, considering the break, we haven’t played in front of our home crown in some time,” Pietrack said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
