The Fort Lewis College men’s basketball won its final game of the calendar year on Saturday, hitting big buckets down the stretch to defeat the Colorado School of Mines 86-78 and take some momentum into the break.
Brenden Boatwright had a big game for FLC and powered his way to key points in the paint. One of his biggest baskets came with 7:20 left in the game when he grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback to give FLC its first lead of the second half at 67-66. Dunnell Stafford extended the lead with a 3-pointer, and the Skyhawks stayed ahead the rest of the contest.
Mines closed to within three points of FLC, 79-76, with a pair of Ben Boone free throws with 1:43 left. Riley Farris answered by draining a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
Stafford added an insurance bucket, and JacQuess Hobbs came up with a steal and assisted Farris to seal the victory.
The Skyhawks also made their last seven free throws in the contest and finished 17 of 20 from the line.
Farris scored 26 points to lead Fort Lewis, knocking down shots from close, midrange and beyond the arch. Boatwright finished with 22 points. Stafford added 13, and Corey Seng and Hobbs both scored seven.
Boone led Mines with 24.
Hobbs put Fort Lewis on the scoreboard with a steal and fast break, but the Orediggers scored the next seven points to go up 7-2. After Boatwright knocked down a pair of free throws and Farris scored in the paint, Corey Seng hit a 3-pointer to give FLC an 11-9 lead.
The teams traded leads seven times in the half after that.
Boatwright dunked the ball to excite the crowd and spark a 6-0 FLC run. Brendan La Rose sank a 3-pointer, and Junior Garbrah hit a shot to tie the game at 24-24.
Farris then got hot and scored nine of FLC’s next 11. His baskets gave FLC a 28-27 lead and tied the contest at both 32 and 35. Mines went on an 8-0 run after that, but Fort Lewis finished the half strong with 3-pointers from Logan Hokanson and La Rose to go into halftime trailing 43-41.
The teams stayed close for most of the second half. Seng swished a 3-pointer that tied the game, 62-62, and Hobbs followed with a 3-pointer that gave FLC a 65-63 lead. Mines responded with a 3-pointer, but FLC took the lead for good on a Boatwright basket.
The Skyhawks played without Akuel Kot and Will Wittman, who were injured Friday agaiinst Regis. It’s unclear when they’ll return.
With the win, FLC improves to 8-4 overall and 4-2 in the RMAC where it’s tied with Colorado Mesa for third. The two RMAC teams that beat Fort Lewis, Black Hills State (8-3, 6-0) and Regis (10-1, 5-0) sit at the top of the standings while Metropolitan State, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Westminster are all a half-game behind FLC at 3-2 in the conference.
Mines slid to 4-5, 2-3 with the loss.
After the holiday break, FLC will return to action Jan. 4 at South Dakota Mines (3-8, 1-4).
