Colorado School of Mines men’s basketball beat Fort Lewis College 82-79 on Thursday night in a thrilling matchup between two of the top four teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. In the second half, the No. 12 ranked in Division II Orediggers flipped the switch. CSM got FLC in foul trouble and shot a staggering 81% in the second half for 51 points.
However, the Skyhawks looked like they were in control at halftime up 39-31; they held the Orediggers to 37% shooting. In the second half, CSM used its experience and continuity to make a lot of smart reads that led to easy shots. FLC stayed in the game by forcing 25 turnovers, but it was feast or famine; if FLC wasn’t stealing the ball it was getting scored on.
“Our game plan was there,” FLC head coach Jordan Mast said. “We really gave them fits on the defensive end. We turned them over 25 times and had 19 steals. I’m going to be more proud of the effort … We're a different team than we were a month ago … In the second half they came out and they just went right to the post. They got open shots, we forced some and we just let them right back in the game.”
FLC fell to 13-7 overall and 7-4 in the RMAC after it shot 46% from the field, 42% from 3-point range and 71% from the free-throw line.
Junior forward Keither Florence led the Skyhawks with 17 points off the bench on 8-10 shooting from the field and 1-1 from 3-point range. Redshirt freshman guard Stewart Erhart had 13 points on 4-6 shooting from the field, 1-2 from 3-point range and 4-4 from the free-throw line. Erhart also had a season-high seven steals, which matched FLC senior guard Biko Johnson for the most steals in a single game in the RMAC this season.
Johnson, the RMAC’s leading scorer, struggled against CSM and finished with nine points; it’s the first time he didn’t score in double-figures since the opening game of the season. He fouled out after playing 23 minutes. Mast said Johnson couldn’t get into a rhythm offensively with the foul trouble.
CSM improved to 16-3 overall and 10-1 after it shot 56% from the field, 44% from 3-point range and 84% from the free-throw line.
Majok Deng led the Orediggers with 19 points on 6-9 shooting from the field, 3-5 from the 3-point line and 4-4 from the free-throw line. Markus Pastorcic-Straun added 14 points for CSM.
Skyhawks junior forward Cassius Carmichael gave FLC a nice early cushion when he was left open at the top of the key; he stepped into a 3-point look and cashed it to put FLC up 7-2 with 15:30 left in the first half.
Florence hit a corner 3-pointer and finished in transition. Florence has struggled with some injuries and illnesses this year but when healthy, he gives the Skyhawks a strong, skilled and athletic forward.
CSM took its first lead of the game 17-16 with a drive by Pastorcic-Straun with 10:22 left in the first. The Orediggers had a size advantage at the forward position and used that size to finish inside or set screens for their guards.
Florence showed his strength inside with back-to-back strong post moves for finishes to put FLC up 25-23 with 5:40 left.
“He was a man tonight,” Mast said about Florence. “He's just so strong, he's got great control and we need it. We were settling for a lot for threes. We're not a terrible shooting team, but that's not our strength. We're good at getting to the rim and getting stuff at the rim, and we don't really have a ton of post-ups … so he brought it tonight when we need it the most and was tough and physical; he'd battled and played fantastic.”
FLC’s active hands were on display to end the half; Erhart had two steals late as FLC led 38-31 at half. Erhart had 10 points and four steals in the first half.
CSM started the second half with two triples from Deng. The Skyhawks struggled to run offense and their only points in the first four minutes were from Erhart off a steal. Johnson continued to be quiet on offense and couldn’t create the space he usually could.
The Orediggers started the half on a 16-2 run and led 47-40 with 14:36 left after some free throws after Mast was called for a tech. FLC freshman guard AJ Riggs ended the run with a 3-pointer, but a bad break for FLC happened when Deng was called for his fourth foul with 13 minutes left.
“You could tell right away they were trying to get inside,” Mast said about CSM’s run. “They were very disciplined on just where they wanted the ball. We were allowing it easy. So they doubled down on it because it was working … We had a seven-point lead and we played very comfortably. When you play comfortably against those teams, those runs can cost you a game.”
FLC battled back with some paint touches and transition opportunities. Johnson scored off a steal to tie the game at 52 with 11:21 left.
The referees weren’t afraid to blow their whistles. Both benches got technical fouls and it seemed like when there was any contact the whistles were blown. Mast thought the game was refereed fairly but there were too many quick calls and technicals without warning.
Mast put senior forward Chuol Deng and Johnson in with 6:30 left with four fouls for each. The teams traded 3-pointers and FLC led 71-70 with 3:55 left, with a triple by junior guard Malachi Coleman giving FLC the lead.
The Skyhawks continued to battle but were limited on defense with three of their players with four fouls late. Pastorcic-Straun had some timely drives and finishes to take advantage of this. A layup by FLC fifth year guard Tru Allen cut the Oredigger lead to 80-79 with 20 seconds left.
On the ensuing possession, the Skyhawks forced a shot clock violation and got the ball back with 10 seconds left. Allen drove the length of the court to the right, tried to finish over an Oredigger forward and missed. FLC couldn’t grab the rebound, CSM was fouled and made both free throws
FLC plays at MSU Denver on Saturday at 3 p.m.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
