The Fort Lewis College men’s basketball team was dominated on the glass in the team’s loss to Colorado Mesa on Thursday. Senior forward Chuol Deng made sure the Skyhawks didn’t have issues on the boards in their 76-61 win over Western Colorado on Sunday.
Deng tied a season-high with 13 rebounds to go with a team-high 18 points as the Skyhawks outrebounded Western Colorado 42-36 in the win.
FLC improved to 16-9 overall and 10-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference after it shot 36% from the field, 22% from 3-point range and 76% from the free-throw line.
Deng finished 3-8 from the field, 0-1 from 3-point range and 12-14 from the free-throw line. The 14 free throws were a season-high for Deng. Freshman guard AJ Riggs continued his strong shooting and finished with 11 points on 4-5 shooting from the field, 2-2 from 3-point range and 1-1 from the free-throw line. Fifth year guard Tru Allen and senior guard Biko Johnson added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Western Colorado fell to 6-17 overall and 4-12 in the RMAC after it shot 39% from the field, 38% from 3-point range and 63% from the free-throw line.
Kade Juelfs led the Mountaineers with 20 points on 7-14 shooting from the field, 4-8 from 3-point range and 2-2 from the free-throw line. Christian Still added 15 points.
The Skyhawks and Mountaineers battled back and forth to start the game before FLC went on an 18-3 run to take a 27-15 lead with 5:49 left in the first. Western Colorado battled back with the 3-point shot and trailed FLC 31-28 at half.
Western Colorado stayed within six points for the first 13 minutes before the Skyhawks pulled away in the final seven minutes. Deng took over down the stretch; he went 10-10 from the free-throw line in the last seven minutes as the Skyhawks stretched their lead to 15 at the final buzzer. Deng’s 15 second-half points helped FLC score 45 points in the second half.
FLC plays at home against CSU Pueblo on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
