Box Score Durango, Colo. – The NMHU Men's Basketball team fell to the NCAA DII 25th ranked Skyhawks of Fort Lewis College, by the final score of 81-60. With the loss the Cowboys, led by Head Coach Joe Harge, fall to a 3-6 record in the RMAC and 5-8 in overall play.
The Cowboys jumped out to a three-point lead (5-2) and were able to keep out in front for several minutes. But the Skyhawks regained the momentum and quickly turned the game in their favor, going up by one point (10-9) with 15:18 left in the first half.
Fort Lewis took advantage of a 10-0 run midway through the first half to build up a double-digit lead (25-15) over the Cowboys. The Skyhawks had control at this point and began to put distance on the scoreboard throughout the remainder of the first half. When the buzzer sounded for halftime, the Skyhawks were up 40-24.
Fort Lewis resumed their dominance at the beginning of the second half. The Cowboys were trying hard to get back into the game, but the Skyhawks were too well prepared and they continued to control the action.
With just 10:59 left to play in the game, Fort Lewis had jumped out to their biggest lead of the game, 63-34. The Skyhawks maintained control for the remainder of the game and when the final buzzer sounded, #25 Fort Lewis had emerged victorious by the final score of 81-60.
Once again it was
Mannie Cass who led the Cowboys in scoring with 14 points. Cass played 23 minutes against the Skyhawks, adding three rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot to his night's totals.
Lavelle McDade added 13 points to the Cowboys' efforts. He grabbed two rebounds, and had two assists and a steal in his 27 minutes on the court.
Lionel Coleman and
Ray Riley scored 12 points apiece, giving the Cowboys four players in double-digit scoring. Coleman contributed two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 29 minutes of play. Riley would add one rebound and a steal in 18 minutes on the court.
Augustus French led the Cowboys in rebounds with 10. French also had five points and a blocked shot in 22 minutes of play.
The Cowboys will continue conference road action on Saturday, 1/12, as they travel to Alamosa, Colo. to face the rival Grizzlies of Adams State University. The Grizzlies are currently ranked second in the RMAC with a perfect 8-0 conference record and 10-1 in overall play.
GO COWBOYS!!!
