GUNNISON, Colo. --- The Western Colorado men's basketball team looks for a little redemption as the Mountaineers host Fort Lewis 7:30 p.m. Friday at Paul Wright Gym.

No spectators will be allowed at the game - or at any home Mountaineer event indefinitely.

Western and the Skyhawks met Saturday with FLC winning 89-69 in a non-RMAC contest that came about after both teams' weekend opponents - Black Hills State and Chadron State - couldn't make it due to COVID-19 concerns.

MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO TUESDAY | SEASON STATS
Western in its first action of the season Saturday in a loss to Fort Lewis started finding its groove in the second half - scoring 48 points and shooting 58.6 percent from the field, including going 7-for-12 from 3-point range after going 1-for-9 in the first half. 

Jackson Ehrlin led four Mountaineers in double figures with 18 points to go along with 11 rebounds and four blocks. Cole Sienknecht had 15 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals, freshman Grant Wilkinson in his collegiate debut had 12 points and five assists while Avery Rembao had 12 points and six rebounds. The Mountaineers will look to improve their turnover woes as they committed 18 against the Skyhawks.

FORT LEWIS HEADING INTO TUESDAY | SEASON STATS
The Skyhawks had five players reach double figures in the victory over the Mountaineers on Saturday - including their top two scorers coming off the bench in Dunnell Stafford (18 points) and Akuel Kot (17 points). Riley Farris added 15 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, Corey Seng had 15 points while Cesar Molina added 10 points.

FLC shot 53.2 percent in the game, including 6-for-17 from 3-point range (35.3 percent), and was 17-for-19 from the free throw line. The Skyhawks scored 26 points off of 18 Mountaineer turnovers (on the other side, Western scored seven points off of 11 FLC turnovers). 

LAST SEASON VERSUS FORT LEWIS
The Mountaineers split their two matchups with the Skyhawks last season, falling at home 88-74 on Jan. 17 (Matthew Ragsdale scored a season-high 24 points for the Mountaineers) and winning on the road in Durango for the first time in 11 years, 87-83 on Feb. 22 (Will Willis had a team-high 24 points).

WESTERN COLORADO NOTES

- MOUNTAINEERS PICKED TO FINISH 10TH IN THE RMAC (FULL STORY)
The Western Colorado men's basketball team was selected tied for 10th in the RMAC's Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches poll. The Mountaineers are tied with Westminster for the 10th spot with 91 points, seven points behind No. 9 CSU Pueblo and 37 points ahead of No. 12 South Dakota Mines. Colorado School of Mines was picked to win the conference with 13 of the 15 first-place votes and 195 points while Black Hills State was picked second with two first-place votes and 172 points followed by UCCS, Colorado Mesa and Fort Lewis in the top five.

- SIENKNECHT CHASING ALL-TIME 3-POINT TOP-7 AT WESTERN
While just a junior, Cole Sienknecht has a chance to reach the top seven in Western history - even in this COVID-shortened season. The Colorado Springs product has 125 career 3-pointers up to this point, 32 behind the No. 7 spot on the Western all-time list by Mike Legg (157 from 1994-99). The all-time mark is 307 set by Wil Pierce from 1992-96. The No. 2 spot you ask? Current Western assistant coach Ben Beauchamp with 209 (2015-18).

- ELEVATED RECORD AT THE HIGHEST COLLEGIATE GYM IN THE WORLD IN 2019-20
The Mountaineers last season went 10-3 at Paul Wright Gym - the highest collegiate gym in the world at 7,723 feet. 

- WESTERN IN SEASON OPENERS SINCE 2009
The Mountaineers are now 2-10 in season openers since 2009.

• 2020-21 - L, 89-69 at Fort Lewis
• 2019-20 - L, 96-85 at UTPB
• 2018-19 - W, 77-72 vs. #4 West Texas A&M
• 2017-18 - L, 84-77 at #11 UTPB
• 2016-17 - L, 89-78 vs. Wayland Baptist
• 2015-16 - L, 92-68 at Arkansas-Fort Smith
• 2014-15 - L, 77-63 vs. Midwestern State (in Pueblo, Colo.)
• 2013-14 - L, 75-65 at Hawaii Pacific
• 2012-13 - L, 62-42 at Wyoming
• 2011-12 - L, 78-39 at Wyoming
• 2010-11 - L, 78-52 at Boise State
• 2009-10 - W, 94-79 vs. Northern New Mexico