When the Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team gets a white-out game, it surely is a big game.
Fresh off two big road wins to begin Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, the No. 15 Skyhawks (5-1, 2-0 RMAC) will return home to the nest of Whalen Gymnasium for three consecutive games beginning with a rivalry showdown at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Colorado Mesa University (5-3, 1-1 RMAC) of Grand Junction.
“If you’re a fan of good basketball and want to see teams that play the right way with a group of great players and good coaches, Friday’s game is a game for you,” FLC head coach Bob Pietrack said.
Fort Lewis, which has been ranked in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Top 25 poll for a program record 32 consecutive weeks, is looking to continue its dominance on home court under Pietrack and associated head coach Daniel Steffensen. The Skyhawks have gone 34-1 at home over the last two-plus seasons.
In a special promotion, The Skyhawks have planned a white-out game Friday. The first 1,300 fans will receive a free shirt. Whalen Gymnasium seats 2,250 fans, and FLC hopes to see every seat filled.
“We’re hoping it rivals the last two times we’ve done white-out games with two years ago against Adams State and last year against Colorado Mines when we were full to capacity,” Pietrack said. “We would like to thank Durango Motor Company for their continued support of the white-out night. We appreciate everything they’ve done for Fort Lewis College and the Durango community.”
FLC is coming off a record-setting weekend. Sophomore forward Riley Farris had a perfect 12-of-12 shooting night to finish with a career-high 31 points in a win at New Mexico Highlands last Saturday. Daniel Hernandez also had a career-high 23 points in that 91-79 win. In the RMAC opener at CSU-Pueblo, senior forward Rasmus Bach surpassed Zack Cole for most made 3-pointers in a career. The previous record was 216, and Bach now has 218.
Bach failed to reach double-digit scoring in each of the two road games last week, but his well-rounded play paired with big contributions off the FLC bench fueled the Skyhawks.
“We have a little bit better depth right now,” Pietrack said. “We have five seniors that have been through a lot of wars. The buy-in from all the guys right now is extremely high. They’ve tasted success on the road and have great attitudes top to bottom.”
FLC has one of the top offenses in the RMAC with an average of 85.7 points per game. Only Adams State (85.9) has been better. Colorado Mesa is in the middle of the pack at 82.6 points per game and has allowed 79.9 points per game. Fort Lewis’ defense ranks fourth in the RMAC, as it has allowed only 71.7 points per game.
The Mavericks have two elite scorers in Connor Nichols and Emilio Acdeo. Nichols has averaged 16.6 points per game to go with a team-high seven rebounds, and Acedo is at 16.4 points per game. Damon Dubots also provides a nice post presence with 12.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
“Nichols and Acadeo are good scoring threats, and the Dubots kid on the inside is a very good player,” Pietrack said. “CJ Davis and Kolton Peterson are also good shooters. We have to know where they’re at at all times. It’s a good Mesa team with the ability to be another very good RMAC team. These are the games you got to win.”
Bach has averaged 14 points per game to go with 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. FLC has five players averaging more than 10 points per game, with Farris, Daniel Hernandez, Marquel Beasley and DJ Miles all scoring in bunches.
FLC will again look to lean on its seniors in the first of these three home games. A senior-loaded Western State Colorado University (3-5, 1-1 RMA) will visit at 7:30 p.m. Saturday before Adams State (4-4, 2-0 RMAC) comes to Durango at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“We’re thankful we get to play,” Pietrack said. “We had a lull after our first week with only two games in 17 days. Right now, these guys are so ready. The RMAC is so competitive and so fun to be part of, and that’s exciting. Right now, we could play every other day and be happy about it.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
If you go
Who:
Colorado Mesa University at Fort Lewis College
What:
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men’s basketball
When:
7:30 p.m. Friday
Where:
Whalen Gymnasium, Durango
Listen Live:
KIUP 930 AM, 97.3, 106.3 FM
Twitter:
@jlivi2
