The Colorado Mesa men’s basketball team entered Whalen Gymnasium red-hot on Friday after beating the defending Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion and then-No. 3 ranked Black Hills State last weekend in South Dakota, 80-69.
The Mavericks came to Durango ranked No. 23 in the nation to face the No. 12 Skyhawks and quickly jumped out to a 23-5 lead. The Skyhawks picked up their intensity on defense after that and forced a 24 turnovers in the game, but struggled shooting throughout the contest. Obi Agbim sparked a run with three minutes remaining that helped FLC cut Mesa’s lead to three points, 69-66, but Mesa was able to put the game away from the free-throw line to escape with a 75-68 win in the top-25 battle.
“I just thought Mesa was coached better, played better and was tougher than us,” head coach Bob Pietrack said. “I’m really proud of our guys. I do think we showed a lot of fight. We got hit pretty good being down 23-5, and we were able to cut it all the way down to three near the end. Disappointed to lose, but it’s part of the journey so we just have to regroup and get ready to play tomorrow.”
The Skyhawks shot 36.5%, 23-of-63, from the field and 17-of-24 from the free-throw line. From three, FLC made 5-of-25 attempts, but only hit two of its first 20 tries.
Mesa shot 50.9% (28-55) from the field.
After starting in the early hole, Agbim and Brenden Boatwright made and-ones on back-to-back possessions to spark an 11-2 Skyhawk run. Boatwright then tipped a pass that led to a JaQuaylon Mays fast-break bucket and Boatwright later scored as he was falling down.
A put-back basket from Sekou Dembele cut Mesa’s lead to just six, 27-21, but the Mavericks responded with a 3-pointer and a layup to go back up by 11, 32-21.
The Skyhawks cut into the lead again, with Boatwright taking a charge, Kot scoring a with reverse layup and Mays dunking to make it 32-25.
Mesa responded with an 8-0 run, but the Skyhawks finished the half strong to go into the break trailing by single digits, 40-32. Mays drove to the hoop for a layup, Dunnell Stafford made FLC’s first 3-pointer and Dembele scored after grabbing an offensive rebound.
Both teams continued making runs in the second half, with Mesa scoring the half’s first six points.
Akuel Kot, who Mesa swarmed most of the game, answered with a trey. He got fouled attempting another three and made 2-of-3 from the line. Kot then stole the ball in Mesa territory and hit a jumper to cut the lead back to 46-39.
Mesa went back up by 14, 59-45 and maintained it to 63-49.
In the last five minutes, FLC made things interesting. Dembele scored after grabbing an offensive rebound and Mays score two and-one. Agbim then sunk three-pointers on back-to-back possessions and Kot followed with a three to cut the lead to 69-64. Then, 1:35 left, Brenden La Rose dunked the ball make it a one-basket game, 69-66. The teams traded baskets and FLC trailed 71-68 with 1:03 left. After a missed free throw, however, Mesa grabbed an offensive rebound to eat some valuable seconds. The Mavericks then grabbed another offensive rebound, leading to a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left.
The Skyhawks still had a chance, but missed from three and Mesa iced the game from the free-throw line.
Kot led FLC with 22 points shooting 6-15 from the field and 8-11 from the line. Mays added 12, Agbim nine, Boatwright eight and Dembele seven.
Blaise Threatt scored 21 to help Mesa give FLC its first home loss of the year while Trevor Baskin scored 17, Reece Johnson 12 and Mac Riniker 11.
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for FLC, which slid to 15-2, 9-2 RMAC with the loss. Mesa improved to 15-3, 10-2 with its 10th consecutive win.
FLC was also scheduled to play Westminster on Saturday night, giving the Skyhawks a chance to avenge its only other loss of the year.
Colorado Mesa’s defense gave the FLC women trouble on Friday. Despite its struggles shooting, FLC only trailed 12-9 after the first quarter and 27-23 at halftime.
Mesa, however, started to pull away in the third quarter and a 3-pointer extended its lead to 42-28.
Audra Vine knocked down a 3-pointer to make it a 10-point game, but Mesa entered the fourth leading 48-32. FLC won the fourth, but was able to cut into the lead much.
Kelsert Sorenseon led FLC with 12 points while Avery Evans added 11. The Mavericks focused on shutting down Lanae Billy and held her to 3 points.
FLC slid to 6-11, 3-8 while Mesa improved to 7-11, 6-6.
