The Fort Lewis men’s basketball team struggled in its first game of the new year and fell to South Dakota Mines 94-78 on Tuesday. Almost every shot the Hardrockers put up seemed to fall as they scored a season-high 94 points.
Akuel Kot returned to the court for the first time since being injured against Regis University Dec. 17 and knocked down five 3-pointers to lead FLC in scoring with 19 points. His second 3-pointer cut Mines’ lead to 36-34.
The Hardrockers, however, shot lights out in the first half, making nearly 70% of the shots they put up to take a 52-42 lead into the break. Mines also limited FLC’s leading scorer, Riley Farris, to just five first-half points and eight in the game.
Mines then went on an 18-3 run to start the second half to extend its lead to 70-45. The Skyhawks went more than five minutes between baskets before Kot ended the drought with a three.
Junior Garbrah scored 13 points for FLC. Brenden Boatwright added nine, JacQues Hobbs scored eight, Dunnell Stafford scored seven, Corey Seng added six, and Brendan La Rose and Ra’Shjon Martinez each scored four.
Mines had six players score in double digits, led by Alejandro Rama’s 24.
FLC is now 8-5 overall and 4-3 in the RMAC. Mines improved to 5-8, 3-4.
Fort Lewis will next play at Metro State on Friday and at Colorado Christian on Saturday.
