Led by one of the best all-around players in all of Division II men’s basketball, Fort Lewis College is ready to cut into the meat of the season.
Riding a three-game winning streak and fresh off a road sweep of Black Hills State and Chadron State on the longest road trip of the season, the Skyhawks are ready to settle into Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play with four of their next six games coming at home inside Whalen Gymnasium. It all begins at 7:30 Friday night against New Mexico Highlands (1-11, 1-7 RMAC) and again Saturday night against Western New Mexico (1-11, 1-7 RMAC)
At 10-3 overall and 5-2 in the RMAC, the Skyhawks currently sit in fifth place in the conference standings and are within a game of third.
“I think we’ve had spurts of really good basketball. What we need to do is be able to string it out for 40 minutes every game,” FLC head coach Bob Hofman said. “If we’re gonna be a factor in league, we need to play better defense for 40 minutes and not rely on Alex (Herrera). if we all do our jobs, we will be a factor.”
It’s hard not to rely on a player the caliber of Herrera, the 6-foot-9 senior center from Ignacio. The All-American’s name can be found near the top of the leaders in all of Division II men’s basketball in several statistical categories. He has averaged a double-double at 22.4 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. He leads the nation in free-throw attempts (147) and blocked shots (52) and blocked shots per game (4). He’s second in the country in double-doubles (10) and is second in free throws made (99). He’s also fifth in total rebounds (145), seventh in total points (291) and eighth in rebounds per game.
“He’s done a remarkable job on both ends of the floor as a leader,” Hofman said of his star. “Alex wants to win so badly sometimes he gets frustrated when everything is not going perfect. He’s very outspoken in the leadership role, as our seniors are supposed to be. I couldn’t be more pleased to see he is the hardest worker we have.”
Around Herrera, the rest of the Skyhawks have taken advantage of open opportunities offensively. The rest of the starting-five – Rasmus Bach, Cade Kloster, Will Morse and Jared Smith – all have shot better than 40-percent from 3-point range, while FLC is shooting 50.9 percent as a team from the field.
Kloster, a junior, has had a hot hand of late. It began during two games before the break against Colorado Mesa and Western State and carried over last weekend on the road trip.
“In Cade’s case recently, we need to do a better job getting him the ball. He came out on fire against Black Hills and made his first four 3s, and then not another look at the basket for 20 minutes,” Hofman said. “The team has to know that what’s going well needs to be taken advantage of, and the guy on fire needs to get more shots.”
FLC will welcome the two teams at the bottom of the conference to town for this weekend’s set. New Mexico Highlands is in a transition year with first-year head coach Craig Snow, and both teams have struggled shooting the ball this year.
“Western New Mexico got its very first victory on the road at a tough place to play in Regis last weekend. Highlands, their last two games have been really good, and they were ahead at halftime at New Mexico State this week,” Hofman said. “Highlands has a new coach, program, everything, and they’re getting better and better. Both team’s records are not indicative of their teams, and its remarkable how hard they’re still playing.”
Kendrick Nichols has led the Cowboys with 18 points per game while making 2.6 3s per game. Jonathon Mines has averaged 14 points per game.
The Cowboys are last in the RMAC in scoring defense at 81.8 points per game.
The Mustangs have been outscored by 20.3 points per game. Their 36 percent shooting ranks last in the conference, and that has led to an RMAC-worst 60.1 points per game.
Marcos Castrillo has led the Mustangs with 11 points per game, followed closely by Terrez Scott (10.8), who leads in the RMAC in steals per game (2.1).
FLC has won five in a row against the Cowboys and four of the last five against the Mustangs. FLC is a combined 52-21 at home against the two foes.
“The trademark of our team over the past years is we get better and better all the way into March. I hope that continues,” Hofman said. “The students aren’t back yet, but this is basically the beginning of our ‘third season’ that we talk about.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
