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Balanced offense pushes Fort Lewis men’s basketball past Adams State, 101-83

Six Skyhawk players score in double-figures
Jhei-R Jones of Fort Lewis College plays defense on Dec. 16, 2023, while playing Westminster University at FLC. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

The Fort Lewis Skyhawks hit the road Tuesday night and did something for only the third time this regular season: pass 100 points.

Fort Lewis was humming on offense nearly the entire game as they cruised to a 101-83 victory at Adams State.

Fort Lewis improved to 21-2 overall and 16-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after it shooting 50% from the field, 52% from the 3-point line and 67% from the free-throw line.

Adams State fell to 8-15 overall and 6-11 in the RMAC after shooting 43% from the field, 38% from the 3-point line and 75% from the free-throw line.

“The game was controlled by us the whole way,” Skyhawks coach Bob Pietrack said. “Our depth, our balance, you look at our scoring, to score 100 points and have that type of balance is incredible. We're proud of it.”

Junior guard Jhei-R Jones had 15 points on 4 of 7 shooting from the field, 4 of 5 shooting from beyond the arc and 3 of 4 shooting from the free-throw line. Jones also had a team-high nine rebounds and five assists.

Senior guard Junior Garbrah also had 15 points. Junior guard Obi Agbim had 14, while junior forward Brayden Carter had 13. Junior guard Samier Kinsler and junior forward Isaiah Thompson each had 10 points.

“Early in the year, he had a sprained wrist tendon and that's why he wasn't shooting very well,” Pietrack said about Jones. “But since that’s healed since Christmas, he's really shot it well. So he's a huge piece to our team and we're just going to keep riding these 10 guys and riding the hot hand out of the 10. It could be a different guy any night as far as who does what.”

Adams State’s Austin Fadal and Isaiah Sampson scored 19 and 17 points, respectively.

Fort Lewis led by as many as 17 in the first half but a lull in the first half by the Skyhawks allowed the Grizzles to rally, according to Pietrack. Adams State tied the game at 44 with 1:39 left in the first half, and the Skyhawks took a 49-44 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Fort Lewis led by as many as 21 and cruised to victory behind better defense.

The Skyhawks will host their Pink Game against Western Colorado University at 6 p.m. Saturday.

bkelly@durangoherald.com



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