In a tough league such as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, it’s important for teams to defend their home court. The Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team took that mantra to another level Friday.
The Skyhawks stymied RMAC’s first-place team and the No. 15-ranked team in the nation, Colorado Mines, in Friday’s 64-53 win. Fort Lewis used a 13-0 first half run and suffocating defense throughout to upset the Orediggers at Whalen Gymnasium.
Skyhawks’ point guard Joshua Blaylock locked down one of the league’s top scorers, the Orediggers’ Gokul Natesan, and poured in 19 points on the offensive end to lead the way for Fort Lewis.
“I’m extremely happy with the effort we gave, and I wouldn’t trade Blaylock for two buckets of gold,” said FLC first-year head coach Bob Pietrack after his first RMAC win. “In a conference like this, that kind of effort is what winning teams need to bring every night. It was a good win against a good team, but we have to get right back at it (Saturday).”
Natesan got out to a fast start and scored the game’s first five points to give the visitors an early lead. Fort Lewis fought back and went on a 13-0 run with Natesan, the RMAC’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, on the bench in the first five minutes of the game with two fouls.
The run and the absence of their best player took some zest out of the defending RMAC co-champions, and the Skyhawks simply outworked the Orediggers to every loose ball.
Fort Lewis (6-1, 1-1 RMAC) forced six first-half turnovers with tenacious defense from Jared Smith, Blaylock and company, who forced Colorado Mines into shooting a disappointing 25 percent from the floor in the opening half.
“All week, we focused on taking the fight to them,” said Fort Lewis senior Cade Kloster. “We watched film, and that’s what they like to do to other teams. We knew we had to do that to them if we wanted to win, and that’s what we did.”
The big lead allowed Pietrack to go to the deep part of his bench and keep his starters fresh for the second half. Kody Salcido and Ryan Brooks put in quality minutes in the first half and played a big role in preserving the double-digit, 31-20, halftime lead.
The defensive dominance carried into the second half, as the Orediggers (6-2, 1-1 RMAC) had no answer for the intensity Fort Lewis was bringing to the table.
Natesan was held to 4-of-17 shooting overall and 3-of-9 from the 3-point line. he made both of his free throw attempts to finish witha team-high 13 points.
“I just wanted to make (Natesan) work,” Blaylock said. “He’s a great player, so I just wanted to make him take some tough shots.”
After a series of stops on one end, a barrage of 3s from Smith and Blaylock on the other end extended the lead to 50-32, and the normally composed Orediggers were searching for answers.
With a comfortable lead, Fort Lewis took its foot off the gas pedal and, as soon as the intensity lowered, the Orediggers came crawling back. Mines’ 10-2 run cut the deficit to 10, but that’s as close as the Skyhawks would let them get.
“The effort was there for us, and it was nice to see some urgency,” Pietrack said. “They’re a heck of a team, and this is a big win for us.”
The Skyhawks are starting to take on the grit and intensity of their first-year coach, who was beaming with excitement after his first signature win at the helm.
Kloster finished with 12 points, and Rasmus Bach added 10 in the first RMAC win for the Skyhawks this season. Austin Haldorson grabbed seven rebounds and protected the interior with three blocks.
FLC will turn around and host Colorado Christian at 7:30 p.m. Saturday back inside Whalen Gymnasium.
jfries@durangoherald.com
