A physical matchup saw shockingly few free throws until they mattered most.
The Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team attempted only two free throws until there was 5 minutes, 11 seconds remaining in the second half, but foul shots would help decide Saturday’s game. Keven Biggs made a pair of free throws with 8 seconds to play to give the visiting Skyhawks a 55-53 lead in Alamosa against the Adams State Grizzlies. Davere Creighton answered back with two free throws of his own when FLC’s Otas Iyekekpolor was whistled for a foul for a hand check with 3 seconds to play, and the teams went to overtime tied 55-55.
A couple of turnovers by Fort Lewis early in overtime allowed the Grizzlies to take a 62-55 lead. FLC made four consecutive free throws with two each from Marquel Beasley and Alex Semadeni to get within 63-59 with two minutes to play in overtime, but Creighton answered with two more free throws to extend the lead to 65-59, and the Grizzlies closed out a 68-60 victory from there.
It was the first win of the year for Adams State (1-5, 1-0 RMAC) after a brutally tough non-conference schedule. Fort Lewis (4-2, 0-1 RMAC) dropped its first conference opener since the 2015-16 season, also a loss at Alamosa.
“It’s pretty obvious we gotta get a lot better quick,” FLC head coach Bob Pietrack said. “They guys that can play, we gotta be better.”
Fort Lewis shot only 38.3 percent from the field and finished 3-of-20 from behind the 3-point line after an 0-of-9 3-point shooting performance in the first half.
The Skyhawks played without point guard A.J. Sparks, who was out with a back injury. Five minutes into the second half, starting point guard Cesar Molina exited with a knee injury and did not return.
Junior forward Riley Farris did play despite a separated shoulder, and he finished with 13 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes. He started the game 4-of-5 shooting in his first six minutes of action but faded and finished 5-of-13 shooting, including 1-of-4 from 3.
“It’s just been tough. Injuries are part of sports, but we have really been hit hard by it,” Pietrack said. “Not having Cesar the last 15 minutes of the game was really tough, especially with Sparks home with the hurt back. We need better play from everybody we have.”
Beasley finished with a team-high 17 points for FLC. He added seven rebounds. Alex Semadeni had 11 points and seven rebounds to go with three assists before he fouled out with one minute to go in overtime. Keven Biggs started for FLC and finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Rebounding was key in the game, as FLC was outmatched on the glass by a 49-35 margin. Adams State had 14 offensive rebounds and added 16 points on the fastbreak to only two for the Skyhawks.
“Getting dominated on the boards tonight is unacceptable,” Pietrack said. “It’s hard to win a road game when you’re 3-of-20 from 3 and outrebounded by 14 and then have more turnovers than assists. We’re an average team.”
Creighton was huge for the Grizzlies. He finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds and delivered the game-tying free throws in regulation.
“He rebounded the ball well and hit a big 3 in overtime. Tip your hat,” Pietrack said of Creighton.
Rickey Norris added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Grizzlies. Sherman Johnson, who had a quiet first half, finished with 17 points and five rebounds for Adams State, and he made back-to-back baskets to open the overtime. His offensive rebound and layup put Adams State up 68-60 with 34 seconds to go to finish the game.
Fort Lewis will get home and try to regroup before another road trip with games at New Mexico Highlands and Colorado State University-Pueblo on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
“This is a tough learning lesson,” Pietrack said. “We gotta go right back on the road next week. We’re gonna be without some guys for awhile. Until they can come back and help us, we are what we are. There’s no rest in the RMAC.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
