GUNNISON, Colo.  More often than not this season, Western Colorado men's basketball rises up to the challenge when playing ranked opponents, and Friday at Paul Wright Gym was another example of that trait at the Mountaineers fell just shy of the upset in an 82-77 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference loss to visiting and 10th-ranked Fort Lewis College.

The five-point deficit is the same as a defeat on January 6, 2023, against third-ranked Black Hills State University.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Fort Lewis def. Western Colorado, 82-77
Records: Western Colorado 3-18 (1-16 RMAC), Fort Lewis 21-2 (15-2)
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western had trailed by as many as 14 points during first-half action, and then late in the half trailed by 11, 40-29.
• A 3-pointer from Jaelan McCloud from the top, right of the arc cut the deficit to eight, and after a steal by Syris Williams on the Skyhawks' next time down the court, McCloud dropped in another trey that sent Western into the halftime locker room down by just five, 40-35.
• It was Fort Lewis that got off to a quick start in the opening minutes of the second half, building the cushion to nine in less than three minutes. However, the Mountaineers would respond with a big run to take the lead for the first time in the game.
• An Avery Rembao jumper ignited what would become a 12-2 run by Western. Strong defensive play would play a role in the run, though, with several different Mountaineers ripping down defensive rebounds.
• Rembao added the next points with a pair of free throws, and McCloud would join the action with a jumper on a fast break after coming down with the rebound at the other end.
• Fort Lewis would come back with a basket but Rembao answered with a four-point play, knocking down a trey while being fouled and converting the free throw to pull Western to within a point, 50-49.
• The Skyhawks would miss a layup on the ensuing possession with Trevin Lieck ripping down the defensive rebound and doling out a quick outlet pass to Kevin Jimenez who would finish off the fast break with a layup from the left side to lift Western in front, 51-50.
• Fort Lewis grabbed the lead right back with a jumper from in close, then would build the lead to six before Western battled back again, tying the score at 59-59 on a Grant Wilkinson layup just past the midway point of the half.
• A cold spell by Western followed, however, as the Skyhawks went on a 10-1 run to put a little air in their cushion.
• The Mountaineers fought all the way back to within three points, 80-77, with 14 seconds to play, but that's where thoughts of the upset would end.

COURT NOTES

• Rembao led Western in scoring with a season-high 33 points, one point shy of his career high.
• McCloud scored 15 points, going 3-for-5 from long range and converting both of his free throw attempts.
• Fort Lewis was led by the almost unstoppable Akuel Kot who registered a game-high 38 points, hitting four 3-pointer and doing damage with electric drives to the hoop.
• That type of bucket was what did the most damage to the Mountaineers most of the night. The Skyhawks scored 40 of their 82 points from in the paint.
• Though Western shot 42 percent from the floor, it couldn't keep up with Fort Lewis' 51 percent that was reflected by that points-in-the-paint total.
• The Mountaineers received a better night from their bench, as those subs chimed in with 24 points while the Skyhawk subs contributed just 15 points.

NEXT UP
Western hosts Adams State University Saturday in a 7 p.m. RMAC game at Paul Wright Gym.