Five players scored in double-figures for Fort Lewis as the Skyhawks pulled away late in the second half to win their sixth game in a row 100-80 at home Tuesday night against Adams State.
Fort Lewis improved to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after shooting a scorching hot 56% from the field and 37% from 3-point range.
Adams State fell to 2-6 overall and 0-2 in the RMAC after shooting 49% from the field and 36% from 3-point range.
“They fought really hard and came back and they were hard fish to reel and get in the boat tonight so credit them,” Fort Lewis head coach Bob Pietrack said. “I’m really happy with our guys, the depth of our team. In RMAC games, there are ebbs and flows to it. These teams are all good and they're not just going to give it to you.”
Senior guard Junior Garbrah led the Skyhawks with 20 points on 8-10 shooting overall and 2-2 from beyond the 3-point arc. Junior guard Samier Kinsler had his best game of the season, he finished with 18 points on 6-9 shooting from the field and 4-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Senior guard Malik Whitaker had 15 points, junior guard Obi Agbim had 13 points and junior forward Brayden Carter had 10 points.
“There's going to be different nights where different guys play great that’s just what it's going to be,” Pietrack said. “We’ve never had 10 guys this deep, we've never played 10 guys in the 24 years I've been here. If you're watching the game, you tell me who shouldn’t play. They're all good enough to play some.”
Austin Fadal led Adams State with 19 points on 6-15 shooting from the field and 7-8 shooting from the free-throw line. Destan Williams was the only other Grizzles player in double figures with 17 points on 4-10 shooting from the field, 2-6 from 3-point range and 7-7 from the free-throw line.
Adams State came out ready to fight and led 5-0 early and extended its lead to 14-8 with 14:21 left in the first half. Fort Lewis was pounding the ball in the paint early before Kinsler tied the game up at 17 with a 3-pointer with 11:22 to go in the first.
Fort Lewis crashed the glass well early and extended its lead with offensive rebounds which led to second and third chances. Senior center Sekou Dembele was active early with six points and five rebounds as the Skyhawks led 26-23 with 7:40 to go.
Carter then went to work down low and used his frame to get inside for easy finishes. Redshirt sophomore Amondo Miller Jr. was very active defensively with his length at the end of the first half. Fort Lewis went on an 11-2 run with about four minutes to go to stretch the lead to 34-25. The Skyhawks finished the first half strong like they usually do. Garbrah put Fort Lewis up 45-33 after a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Once again, the Skyhawks struggled to maintain a first-half lead in the second half. Adams State got inside the paint and started to heat up from downtown. Just like that, Fort Lewis clung to a 55-53 lead with 11:42 left in the game after another Adams State finish inside due to spotty Skyhawks defense. The Grizzles also had been double-teaming Carter any time he touched the ball in the post which helped Adams State cause some turnovers.
After a timeout with under 12 minutes to go, Fort Lewis turned up the pressure and caused consecutive turnovers which led to layups and some breathing space. The Skyhawk press got the Grizzles out of their rhythm and Kinsler hit a few big 3-pointers from the right side. Agbim got in on the party and hit a 3-pointer to put Fort Lewis up 80-67 with 4:33 left.
Whalen Gymnasium was buzzing as the student section went nuts after Garbrah threw a lob to Whitaker on the fast break for a one-handed slam. Carter had a few dunks on fast breaks off turnovers and the Skyhawks increased the lead by getting out and running late in the fourth quarter. The bench was emptied with 1:09 left up 98-77.
Fort Lewis plays at home on Friday against New Mexico Highlands at 7 p.m.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
