Saturday night’s contest between the Fort Lewis men’s basketball team and Regis looked like it would come down to free throws. It ended up coming down to a single rebound.
After both teams took many trips to the free-throw line at the end of regulation and overtime, FLC senior guard Biko Johnson looked like he won the game after he made three free throws to put FLC up 89-88 with 11 seconds left.
But the Rangers hurried up the court and Regis’ Trey Bryant attempted a step-back 3-pointer from the left wing. It missed so badly that it fell into the hands of Regis’ Chase Harmon under the basket. Harmon banked in the putback at the buzzer to stun the FLC team and its fans with a 90-89 win.
“Our fight was much better in the second half and we were much more connected,” FLC head coach Jordan Mast said. “The message to these guys was details. They outrebounded us by almost 20. That’s just a want, something we can control and something we usually do at a high level. We had so many missed layups. All of those things add up at the end of the game and that’s why you’re in those games. Then all of a sudden you lose by one on a buzzer-beater.”
FLC fell to 5-5 overall and 0-2 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play after it shot 44% from the field, 28% from 3-point range and 76% from the free-throw line in the loss.
Fifth-year guard Tru Allen led FLC with 22 points on 7-19 shooting overall, 0-5 from 3-point range, 8-11 from the free-throw line, seven assists and five rebounds. Johnson finished with 19 points on 3-13 shooting overall, 2-5 from 3-point range and 11-16 from the free-throw line.
“We’re better when they’re getting to the line and not settling for 3-pointers,” Mast said about Allen and Johnson. “Our strength is not shooting 3-pointers so if we can get to the line and stuff at the rim we’re usually a lot better.
Regis improved to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in RMAC play after it shot 51% from the field, 41% from 3-point range and 68% from the free-throw line. The Rangers outrebounded the Skyhawks 46-28.
Jalen Brown led Regis with 25 points off the bench on 9-13 shooting overall, 0-2 from downtown and 7-13 from the free-throw line. Harmon finished with 23 points on 7-12 shooting overall, 5-8 from 3-point range and 4-5 from the free-throw line.
FLC started the game on a 7-0 run. The Skyhawks turned over the Rangers early and got in transition to finish. FLC got a lot more post-touches early to start the offense.
Regis took its first lead 16-13 with a 3-pointer with 11:19 to go. The Rangers started finding some success from inside the paint, in transition and from beyond the arc in the middle of the first half, Regis went on a 12-0 run to turn a one-point deficit into a 40-29 with just over a minute left. Regis led 40-33 at half.
“We weren’t getting great shots that led to them getting easy leakouts and then our defense wasn’t getting set,” Mast said.
Regis increased its lead to 51-40 with 16 minutes left thanks to some strong 3-point shooting and some quality finishes at the rim. FLC was sloppy with its passing and struggled to generate good looks.
Off another poor pass, Regis went the other way and Brown finished, plus the foul. On the next possession, Brown got to the basket and finished thanks to a goaltending call to put Regis up 58-41 with 13 minutes to go.
FLC went on a 7-0 run thanks to better ball movement on offense and defense. Johnson finally hit an outside shot, the Skyhawks posted up junior forward Keither Florence again and he scored with a nice spinning shot. FLC became more active and started forcing turnovers again. Florence finished in transition with a nice Euro-step in transition to cut the Regis lead to 65-62 with five minutes to go.
Free throws were shot all over with both teams in the double bonus down the stretch. Johnson got to the line to keep FLC in the game but the Skyhawks struggled to finish at the rim. A 3-pointer by Kobe Sanders at the end of the shot clock pushed Regis’ lead to 73-66 with 1:45 left.
FLC didn’t stop fighting. Allen had an old-fashioned 3-point play and junior guard Malachi Coleman finished to make it 73-71 with 56 seconds left.
Brown then got to the free-throw line and made one of two to put Regis up 74-71. The Skyhawks then came down the court, Johnson shot a 3-pointer and was fouled. He made the first, missed the second and then intentionally missed the second but FLC couldn’t get the rebound.
Trey Bryant was sent to the line and he made one of two to make the score 75-72 with 19 seconds. Then on the other side of the court, Allen drove down the right baseline, finished on the other side of the basket and was fouled to the delight of the Skyhawks fans. Allen’s free throw went down to tie the game at 75.
Regis had the chance to win with about eight seconds left but a fadeaway midrange jumper was no good and the teams went to overtime.
“Everything was more connected,” Mast said about the second half comeback. “Guys were actually playing off each other and nothing was forced. Guys actually wanted to move the ball; guys were actually moving better defensively and rotating together. When we’re together and connected we’re better. We have spurts where we’re not and we’ve got to fix it.”
Chase Harmon hit two open 3-pointers in overtime to give Regis an 87-82 lead with 1:30 to go. Allen then went to work again by driving and finishing an old-school 3-point play to cut the lead to 87-85.
Johnson continued to get to the free-throw line. He made one of two to cut the deficit to 87-86. After a one-for-two trip to the line by Brown, Johnson got the ball, leaned into a 3-pointer right on the line and was fouled. He made all three free throws to put FLC up 89-88.
FLC plays against New Mexico Highlands on Tuesday at home at 7:30 p.m.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
