Written By: Durango Herald Sports Staff Dale Strode
March 3, 2010. Durango, CO. - The seniors know their way around Whalen Gymnasium - the seniors from New Mexico Highlands, that is.
They also know their way into the RMAC Shootout semifinals.
The visiting Cowboys, taking advantage of a reduced Fort Lewis College roster, blocked the Skyhawks' path to the next round of the annual Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament with a 90-80 victory in front of the vocal FLC fans Tuesday night.
Highlands beat Fort Lewis for the third time this season and the second time at Whalen Gymnasium.
“They are a senior-laden team, and they played better down the stretch," Fort Lewis head coach Bob Hofman said.
“The better team won (Tuesday night)," he said. “Give them all the credit. They played a great game."
Still, the Skyhawks posed major problems for the veteran Cowboys as FLC overcame big Highlands leads on three different occasions.
After the Cowboys stormed to an early six-point lead, the Skyhawks answered with a 13-3 run to take the lead midway through the first half.
David Kanyinda went end-to-end for a layup after grabbing a rebound. Fouled on the shot, he converted the conventional three-point play with a free throw.
Teammate Taylor Faust, off the bench, drilled a 3-pointer, and Matt Billups hit a layup after a steal.
When Kanyinda nailed a trey from the right side, off a Connor Drumm assist, the Skyhawks led by four points.
Highlands answered. Actually, Highlands' seniors answered.
Rashad Peterson hit his only 3-pointer of the night for the Cowboys.
Chris Dunn, a preseason All-RMAC player, collected rebounds by the bushel.
Roman Andrade, in addition to his foul-line prowess, hit a pair of crucial 3-pointers, including a long step-back 3 just before the halftime buzzer - a basket that gave Highlands a 41-38 halftime lead.
The Skyhawks took a brief lead early in the second half behind a driving basket and a 3-pointer from junior Daniel Steffensen, a pair of jumpers from junior DeAndre Lansdowne and an inside bank shot from freshman Torrey Udall.
When Lansdowne grabbed a steal and finished with a crowd-rousing two-handed dunk, Fort Lewis led 60-59 - the last lead of the game for the Skyhawks.
The Cowboys followed with a 10-0 run, capped by a long 3-pointer from Ryan Gonzales and a pair of baseline jumpers by Dunn.
“They were very aggressive," Hofman said. “They made two or three huge 3-point plays. Andrade made a big 3-pointer right before the half. But you have to expect that. He's been a great player for them for two years."
Andrade finished with a game-high 31 points, including 19 of 20 from the free throw line as the Skyhawks struggled to stay out of foul trouble.
“The last time we played here, it was a close game," Andrade, a senior, said. “They are a tough team, and we knew it would come down to the last shot, the last possession."
He said the Cowboys tried to attack the basket on offense with Fort Lewis missing Matt Morris on the inside. Morris is out with a broken hand.
“Their big man was out, so we tried to exploit that," Andrade said.
“We were very fortunate," Highlands head coach Joe Harge said. “Coach Hofman's team is a little banged up. That (Matt) Morris is a heckuva player."
Harge recalled Morris' 19 points and 13 rebounds the last time the two teams played at Whalen.
Kanyinda led the Skyhawks this time with 21 points, including four 3-pointers.
Steffensen added 13 points and six rebounds.
Kyle Behrens scored 11 points and had a team-high 10 rebounds as he was forced to defend the bigger Highlands players on the inside.
Lansdowne added 18 points in the FLC loss.
“He's a bad matchup for anyone in our league," Harge said of the FLC all-star. “He's the player of the year in the league as far as I'm concerned."
He said the Cowboys used a variety of defenders against Lansdowne, including the 6-7 Chop Tang (another Highlands senior).
“You can't put a guard on him (Lansdowne) because he's too long, and he'll jump over you," Harge said.
Dunn added 18 points for Highlands. Gonzales scored 12 off the bench, including three 3-pointers.
Peterson scored 11 as Highlands improved to 19-9, earning a berth in the RMAC Shootout semifinals in Pueblo on Friday.
Fort Lewis likely finished the season with the same 19-9 record - a trip to the NCAA tournament appears unlikely after Tuesday night's loss.
“I told the players I was proud of their effort all season," Hofman said. His squad loses only one senior, Mark Jeranko.
“Fort Lewis has set the standard in our league," Harge said. “That's what we aspire to be."
But looking over the youthful FLC roster, Harge said next year will be a different story.
“They (Skyhawks) are going to be a scary, scary team next year."
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dstrode@durangoherald.com