Fort Lewis rallies late, hands Hounds first loss

Freedom New Mexico

DURANGO, Colo. — Fort Lewis scored the game’s final 10 points over the last 2 1/2 minutes Friday night to turn back Eastern New Mexico University’s men 88-82 on the first night of the Skyhawks’ George B. Boedecker Classic.

Senior forward Kyle Behrens and junior center Matt Morris scored 20 points each for the Skyhawks (1-0), while senior forward Daniel Steffensen added 16 points and eight rebounds.

Five players scored in double figures for the Greyhounds (2-1), led by junior forward Max Carrier with 20 points. Senior guard Victor Reid added 16 points and five assists, junior guard Stefan Mirabal had 15 points, freshman guard Michael Maya scored 11 and junior forward Aaron Edwards notched 10 points and a team-high seven boards off the bench.

In the opener, Idaho-based Northwest Nazarene scored a 76-65 win over Colorado-Colorado Springs. ENMU faces Colorado Springs (0-1) at 3 p.m. today, while Fort Lewis and Northwest Nazarene play at 7:30 p.m.

ENMU led virtually the entire first half. Fort Lewis went on a 9-0 run early in the second half to go in front 54-46, and held a 73-62 advantage with 9:26 to go after two free throws by Steffensen.

The Hounds began chipping away, closing to 78-77 with 3:20 to go after back-to-back baskets by Carrier, then taking the lead on two free throws by senior forward Tyler Jefferson with 3:04 remaining.

Mirabal’s third 3-pointer of the night on the next trip made it 82-78, but the Skyhawks blanked the Hounds the rest of the way. Steffensen’s third trey of the contest put FLC ahead 83-82 with 58 seconds left.

The Hounds went 0-for-4 from the floor with a turnover the rest of the way, and the Skyhawks put it out of reach by making 5-of-6 free throws.