New Mexico’s University of the Southwest hung with the Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team for the first 20 minutes of Wednesday’s home opener for the Skyhawks.
Riley Farris hit a pull-up jumper to give Fort Lewis its biggest lead of the half, 21-13, but the Mustangs were hot beyond the arch and only trailed FLC 41-39 at the break.
In the second half, however, Fort Lewis’ defense stepped up, and its offense got off to a fast start.
Fort Lewis went on an 11-0 run to start the half, with Farris scoring the first seven, and never looked back. The Skyhawks led by as many as 26 points after the break and went on to win 85-64, giving the first fans to watch them play in Whalen Gymnasium in 634 days plenty to cheer about.
“It’s just so fun to play at home, regardless of who we’re playing, because Whalen has always been a special building for our guys and for me, especially,” said FLC head men’s basketball coach, Bob Pietrack, who moved into sole possession of third place in all-time wins (114) in FLC men’s basketball history. “It was great to see it alive again because last year it just wasn’t alive. Tonight, it was alive, and I hope as the season goes, the momentum for the crowds just keeps building and building.“
Corey Seng and Jacquess Hobbs got the scoring started to give FLC an early 4-0 lead. Two Farris baskets and a Will Wittman layup Kept Fort Lewis’ lead at 4, 10-6. After a Southwest bucket, Wittman tipped a rebound to Farris, who scored again from the paint.
Khaire Williams, hit a 3-pointer for Southwest to tie the game at 13-all, but FLC responded with an 8-0 run. Brendan LaRose sunk a 3-pointer, Brenden Boatwright made a bucket and a free throw, and then Farris double-pumped and hit a jumper to put FLC up 21-13.
Southwest closed the gap to two again, but a pair of Wittman dunks kept FLC in front. Wittman first dribbled down the baseline for a slam. Then, after a missed layup, he grabbed the rebound and dunked in the put-back.
Ladarrius Spears, however, had a big half for Southwest and sunk a shot to cut FLC’s lead to 25-24.
Hobbs raced back and blocked a shot on a one-on-one breakaway. Then Dunnell Stafford stole the ball, was fouled and added two free throws, extending Fort Lewis’ lead to 27-24.
Southwest briefly led at 28-27 and 34-33, but Hobbs knocked down a pair of free throws both times Southwest took the lead to put FLC back in front.
As the half ended, Southwest held the ball for a final shot, but Seng stole the ball and was fouled at the hoop. Seng hit one free throw to send FLC into halftime leading 41-39.
The second half was a different story.
The Mustangs, who hit five 3-pointers on 10 attempts in the first half, fell behind by 25 points before they made one in the second half.
Farris scored early, and Boatwright took a charge and made a shot and Stafford hit a jumper to put FLC up 52-39. Southwest responded with two baskets, but FLC answered immediately. First, Hobbs lobbed up a pass to Wittman for a dunk, then then stole a ball and assisted Akuel Kot on his first of back-to-back 3-pointers that put FLC up 60-43. After trading baskets, FLC went on a 10-0 run, with eight free throws, and went up 73-50. After a Southwest bucket, Farris hit two shots and Junior Garbrah made a free throw to give FLC its biggest lead of the game, 78-52, with just over 4 minutes to go.
Farris finished with 23 points and four assists to lead FLC. Kot sunk three 3-pointers to score 12 points, while Wittman hung around the rim and dunked several balls to finish with 10 points. Seng and LaRose both added nine points while Hobbs scored eight, Stafford scored six, and Boatwright added five.
Spears led Southwest with 11 points.
With the win, Fort Lewis improved to 2-1 overall, and Southwest slipped to 2-5.
Fort Lewis will be back in Whalen at 3 p.m. Sunday when Northern New Mexico College to town. That game will be part of the Nike N7 Games, which are held in November in celebration of Native American Heritage Month.
