LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Cowboys led by as much as 11 in both halves, but the Skyhawks rallied, led by as much as eight and held on for the 79-74 win Saturday night (Feb. 7) in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
With the Cowboys up six at halftime, both teams went back and forth before two thunderous putbacks pushed the Highlands advantage back to 11. After missed shots by sophomore
Ricky Norris and junior
Kaylen Shane, Shane grabbed the offensive rebound and turned around for a resounding slam. It was another round of missed shots and offensive rebounds that led to another amazing putback. Norris missed the shot, but junior
Charles George grabbed the board, he missed the shot, but Norris skied for the rebound and slammed another dunk home to put the Cowboys up 47-36 with 16:51 left in the game.
Senior
Jonathon Mines scored a game high 22 points, thanks in part to a perfect 13-13 mark from the charity stripe. Norris added 14 points and eight boards. Shane had 11 rebounds and eight points.
Tied at 14 with 12:39 left, junior
Kendrick Nichols hit a three before picking up the steal and heading right to the hoop for the fastbreak points. Shane answered with a jumper – easily his longest of the season – at the top key just inside the arc. After a timeout and a steal, Norris hit a layup to push the lead to 23-14 with 9:21 left in the first half.
In the second half, the Skyhawks completed the comeback thanks to a 6-12 shooting half from beyond the arc. With Fort Lewis fighting to a 61-60 lead, Alex Herrera – who had a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds – hit a layup before Cade Kloster made a triple. Herrera added a dunk as the Skyhawks claimed their largest lead of the game, 68-60, with 6:14 left.
The Cowboys cut the deficit to two, but Fort Lewis salted the game away by hitting all six free throws in the closing moments.
Besides Herrera, Will Morse came off the bench for 16 while Kloster had 15. Austin Holdorson chipped in 11.
The Cowboys return to action Friday (Feb. 13) when they host Colorado Mesa. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
