The Fort Lewis College men’s basketball jumped out to a huge lead over Westminster College on Thursday and held on to win 77-71 after the Griffins rallied in the second half.
Early in the game, Akuel Kot broke an 8-8 tie with a layup, and Junior Garbrah followed with a 3-pointer. After Westminster cut FLC’s lead to one, 13-12, Riley Farris and Brenden Boatwright responded with baskets. FLC then went on a 15-0 run for a 40-22 halftime lead.
FLC shot 51.9% in the first half (14 of 27), compared with 31.3% for Westminster (10 of 32). Those numbers flipped in the second half, with the Griffins shooting 56.7% on 17-of-30 shooting while FLC made 10 of 30 shots, or 33.3%.
Westminster scored the first 10 points of the second half and got to as close as 73-69, but the Skyhawks got some late field goals and free throws from Jacquess Hobbs to stay in front.
Kot scored 21 points to lead FLC. Farris scored 10, Dunnell Stafford and Will Wittman both scored nine, Boatwright added seven, and Garbrah scored six.
Farris and Corey Seng both had seven rebounds.
The win was Fort Lewis’ eighth straight. FLC will next host Colorado Mesa in its regular season finale on Saturday. The men will play at 7 p.m., after the women’s 5 p.m. showdown.
In the women’s game Thursday, the Skyhawks only trailed Westminster 16-21 after the first quarter. The Griffins, however, dominated the second quarter 25-6 and the third quarter 21-9 to pull out a 68-40 win.
Sydney Candelaria scored 24 points, snagged five rebounds and had three steals to lead FLC. Kelsey Sorenson scored six and grabbed seven rebounds.
Three Westminster players finished in double digits, led by Rae Falatea with 18.
