In one of the most important games of the season, Fort Lewis men’s basketball couldn’t find its groove on the offensive end and fell on the road to Colorado School of Mines 70-65 in its regular-season finale on Saturday night.
The Skyhawks fell to 25-3 overall and 20-2 in the Rocky Mountain after shooting 37% from the field, 25% from 3-point range and 72% from the free-throw line in the loss.
“We didn't shoot a very high percentage and they played really good defense,” Fort Lewis head coach Bob Pietrack said. “That was the story pretty much we just didn't ever get in a good rhythm.”
It’s the lowest percentage overall Fort Lewis has shot this season. The loss also snapped a 13-game winning streak and the Skyhawks finished second in the RMAC behind Colorado Mesa who finished 21-1 in the league.
Colorado School of Mines improved to 23-7 overall and 17-5 in the RMAC after it shot 43% from the field, 28% from the 3-point line and 59% from the free-throw line in the win.
Junior forward Brayden Carter led the Skyhawks with 16 points on 5-6 shooting from the field and 6-9 from the free-throw line. Junior guard Obi Agbim also had 16 points on 6-17 shooting from the field, 2-6 from 3-point range and 2-2 from the free-throw line. Senior guard Junior Garbrah added 11 points as well.
“Brayden played well,” Pietrack said. “They didn't double him so we were able to get it to him and he had a good night.”
The Orediggers were led by Majok Deng’s 18 points on 5-14 shooting from the field, 3-10 from the 3-point line and 5-5 from the free-throw line. Cade Mankle had 13 points as well for Colorado School of Mines.
It wasn’t a good start for the Skyhawks as they trailed 7-0 in the first couple of minutes. Fort Lewis battled back and took the lead for the first time with 8:35 remaining in the first half with a free-throw by senior guard Malik Whitaker to give the Skyhawks a 16-15 lead.
The Skyhawks pushed their lead to five but the Orediggers responded with a 10-0 run and led 30-25 with 2:51 left. Fort Lewis cut the deficit slightly and trailed 35-32 at halftime.
Fort Lewis tied the game at 41 with an Agbim layup with 13:53 left in the second but Colorado School of Mines responded and a Mankle layup gave the Orediggers a 55-47 lead with 7:53 left.
Colorado School of Mines extended its lead to 13 with four minutes left. Fort Lewis crept its way back into the game before back-to-back 3-pointers by Garbrah cut the Skyhawks deficit to 67-65 with 35 seconds left.
But the Orediggers were able to take care of the ball and Mankle drove down the baseline and hit a layup to put Colorado School of Mines up 69-65 with 17 seconds left.
On the next possession, Agbim got an open look from deep but missed and that was the game.
“It's heartbreaking not to win the league and go 20-2 in the league and not get it,” Pietrack said. “It's a bitter pill to swallow but that's life. We're obviously very proud of our team to go 25-3 and have 20 league wins and it's been a very good regular season. So we'll just have to regroup and get ready for Tuesday's home game which is most likely our last home game in Whalen for the year.”
The Skyhawks are back home on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against CSU Pueblo in the RMAC tournament quarterfinals.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
