COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Fort Lewis College center Alex Herrera was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference/Baden Defensive Player of the Week, RMAC Assistant Commissioner Sarah Meier announced today.
 
The 6-foot-10, 235-lb. sophomore from Ignacio High School in Ignacio, Colo., becomes the first Skyhawk men's basketball player to win RMAC Player of the Week honors four times in one season. He previously swept the RMAC/Baden Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards on Jan. 28 and was the RMAC/Baden Offensive Player of the Week on Feb. 11.

“Alex has progressed all year long,” 17th-year FLC head coach Bob Hofman said recently. “His stamina is getting better and better. He's becoming such a great overall presence on the court, regardless of the stats. I couldn't be prouder of the way he's developed over the past three years.”
 
In No. 17 Fort Lewis' 61-54 win over No. 1 Metro State on Friday — FLC's first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked team — Herrera grabbed five defensive rebounds, blocked five shots and limited Metro State center Jonathan Morse to just six points.
 
The following night in an 80-77 loss to Regis, he had six defensive caroms, two blocks and two steals.
 
Herrera nearly tied the game single-handedly in the final 42 seconds against Regis with FLC trailing 78-74. First, Wes McKenzie found him open on the baseline for a dunk to slice the lead in half. With a six-second difference between the shot and game clocks, Regis patiently worked the clock near midcourt. Herrera batted the ball away from RU guard Kevin Marshall near midcourt and streaked down the court on a near-breakaway with less than 10 seconds remaining. He was going up for a game-tying dunk when Regis' Jarrett Green fouled him hard from behind. Herrera went 1-of-2 from the stripe, though, leaving FLC down 78-77.
 
He averaged 17.5 points, seven rebounds, 3.5 blocked shots, 1.5 assists and 1 steal per game while shooting 66.7 percent from the field (14-of-21) and 77.8 percent from the line (7-of-9).
 
Although he's played less than two seasons in a Skyhawk uniform, Herrera already ranks fifth in school history in career blocked shots (96). His 70 blocked shots thus far in 2012-13 ranks fourth in the FLC record books, trailing just Brice Searles (83, 1984-85), Steve Schutz (74, 1996-97) and Rich Hillyer (72, 1987-88).
 
In his first season as a full-time starter, Herrera leads the RMAC in blocks (3.0 per game) and field goal shooting (62.6 percent). He also ranks among league leaders in rebounds per game (third, 9.1), defensive rebounds (third, 138), total rebounds (fourth, 205), offensive rebounds (fifth, 67), field goals (sixth, 134), free throws (ninth, 92), scoring average (ninth, 15.7 points per game) and total points (14th, 360).
 
Fort Lewis (18-5 overall, 15-5 in the RMAC) sits all alone in second place in the league standings, a game ahead of Adams State (17-7, 14-6) and Colorado Mesa (17-7, 14-6).
 
The Skyhawks close the regular season out on the road next weekend with games at Western State Colorado (10-14, 9-11) at 7:30 p.m. next Friday and at Colorado Mesa at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday. FLC fans can watch the live stream of the games at Cuckoo's Chicken House, a family sports restaurant and bar located at 128 E. College Drive in downtown Durango.
 
Fort Lewis beat both teams in Durango in December: 71-61 over the Mavericks on Dec. 16 and 73-70 over the Mountaineers on Dec. 17.