The Skyhawks trip to Hawaii got off to a good start late Monday night. Tuesday, not so much.
The No. 18 Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team opened the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort Thanksgiving Tournament with an 83-74 victory over host Hawaii-Hilo on Monday in Hilo, Hawaii. Then FLC fell 94-92 in overtime to Northern New Mexico on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, FLC (3-1) lost the lead with 2 minutes, 47 seconds to play, then trailed by five with 43 seconds left before rallying to force an extra period with the game tied at 79.
The Eagles (5-3), a member of the NAIA and coached by former FLC assistant Ryan Cordova, pulled ahead by as many as four in overtime before holding off FLC.
Nick Tomsick had a career-high 37 points to pace the Skyhawks on Tuesday, who shot just 39 percent from the field.
“He had a great stretch that brought us back, then got us the lead. Then I thought we stood around too much,” FLC head coach Bob Hofman said.
“We didn’t have anny good rhythm on offense. We never did. And when we did get a stop, then they’d get an offensive rebound.”
Alex Herrera had 10 points and 15 rebounds, while JoeBell Austin scored 19 for FLC.
Matthew Brito led the Eagles with 25 points.
On Monday, FLC outscored Hilo 43-34 after halftime after both teams played to a 40-40 tie at intermission. FLC took the lead out of the gate in the second half and held it for the remainder of the game.
Tomsick again led the way offensively for the Skyhawks, scoring 21 points.
Herrera, the Ignacio High School alumnus, posted a double-double, scoring 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting and pulling down 16 rebounds. He also had four blocks.
Mike Matthews came off the bench to score 10 points, and Wes McKenzie added 10 for FLC.
The Skyhawks as a team shot 50 percent from the floor, connecting on 29 of their 58 shots in Monday night’s victory.
The Vulcans (2-2) were paced by Joey Rodriguez’s 15 points, while Derek Owens had 14 points and eight rebounds.
FLC jumped two spots from 20 to 18 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II poll Tuesday.
“I’ve got to do a better job figuring out this team and the substitutions and the rhythm,” Hofman said.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
