Only seven players got on the bus for a trip to Durango for the Chadron State College Eagles. Going up against the No. 22 team in the country with only one day of practice before a 633-mile drive with a depleted roster was asking too much.
Though Houston Reed’s team battled to the very end on tired legs manned by ailing bodies, Chadron State (3-10, 1-6 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell 88-65 at No. 22 Fort Lewis College (10-2, 6-1 RMAC) on Friday night in Durango.
“It’s hard to play a game with only two days of practice,” said FLC head coach Bob Pietrack, who has now gone 39-1 at home in his first 40 games leading the team. “Chadron had it even worse with travel. When you have eight or nine days off and two days of practice and think you’re gonna have a good showing, it’s hard.
“Chadron was down some guys and played their hearts out. Credit coach Reed and their program for being tough and competitive just like their coach, and that’s a really good sign. That program is gonna keep getting better and better.”
Chadron State was down eight players. Some had not returned from the break, many were sick with the flu, and the Eagles also dealt with injuries. Even the players who did make the trip were battling illness. Every Chadron State player who suited up played at least 20 minutes.
“I think any time you suit up seven guys it’s a challenge,” Reed said. “For us, personnel, we had two guys on the floor tonight play more minutes than they had played the entire seasons. It’s a challenge, but I told the guys it’s an opportunity to take tonight, look at film and help young guys get better.”
FLC and Chadron State were two of only four teams in the RMAC that had to play Friday. Colorado Christian and Adams State also were in action in Alamosa.
Adams State, Chadron State and Fort Lewis are the only teams in the conference that have to play two games this week after the NCAA-mandated break Dec. 20-26.
“The schedule is hard when you have to travel the distance we did,” Reed said. “I’m a new coach in this league, and our program is far from worrying about the RMAC analytics with the schedule. We’re trying to get better every day.”
Like their coach, Chadron State never quit or made excuses. After going down 7-0 and 11-3 early and opening the game 1-of-7 shooting, Chadron State roared back to get within 26-23. But FLC went on a 8-0 run to gain separation and closed the half on a run to take a 37-27 lead into the break.
When Chadron State got within 44-36 with a little more than 15 minutes to play in the second half, the Skyhawks reeled off a 17-2 run to put the Eagles away.
Colin Weaver, a transfer from Nevada, led FLC with 15 points in 15 minutes off the bench. It was only his third game this season, as he has dealt with knee tendinitis. In the second half, he provided a spark the Skyhawks needed to get going. He also had three rebounds, two steals and an assist.
“You can see the energy on defense, and he has a shot, too,” FLC senior forward Rasmus Bach said of Weaver. “He can bring a lot.”
Marquel Beasley had 12 points and 10 rebounds for FLC. He also had two steals and provided a few highlight dunks. Pietrack was pleased with his ability to avoid foul trouble and said he is highly efficient when he’s on the floor.
Riley Farris and DJ Miles each had 10 points off the bench, and Farris added nine rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots in a well-rounded game. Bach finished with 12 points and six rebounds to go with three assists.
What Pietrack wasn’t pleased with was the team’s 18 turnovers, though the Eagles turned those into only 17 points.
“Eighteen turnovers is so uncharacteristic of Fort Lewis basketball,” Pietrack said. “We got good contributions from a lot of players and spread out minutes. The assists were good, but the turnovers are just not good enough.”
Chadron State was led by Jaisean Jackson’s 17 points. He battled illness the last two days and had to be held up on the floor by Reed when FLC was shooting free throws late in the first half. Still, he gutted out 27 minutes.
“That guy was sick as a dog today,” Reed said. “He was sick as a dog for two days and came out and gave it his best effort.”
Jeremy Ruffin added 15 points and seven rebounds but had one dunk attempt blocked. The 6-foot-5 forward was rejected by 5-foot-8 Daniel Hernandez of FLC, who made SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays a year ago with a rejection of 6-foot-8 Colorado Mesa forward Ludvig Saldh. Hernandez had six points and four assists in the game.
Matt Reader had a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Eagles, who will play Saturday at Adams State.
FLC will have a heavyweight matchup at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against a Regis Rangers (10-2, 4-2 RMAC) team that didn’t have to play Friday.
“I think being physical with them, running them off the 3-point line,” Bach said of the keys to FLC’s success Saturday. “Keeping (Dexter Sienko) off the offensive glass and running (Jarrett Brodbeck) off the 3-point line.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
