DURANGO, Colo.  Host Fort Lewis broke out early with a 15-2 start, a deficit Western Colorado chased after but was unable to erase Thursday night in an eventual 89-63 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference loss to the Skyhawks.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Fort Lewis def. Western Colorado, 89-63
Records: Western 5-8 overall (3-2 RMAC), Fort Lewis 7-5 (4-0)
Location: Whalen Gymnasium, Durango, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In a scene that would repeat at the start of both halves, host Fort Lewis would score the first six points and in the opening 20 minutes, would start with a 15-2 run that put Western in a double-digit deficit not quite five minutes after the opening tip.
• Mason Mottashed's 3-pointer tried to ignite the Western offense, and an Aidan McDowell jumper that made it 15-7 tried to fuel the fire.
• The Skyhawks were able to respond to the challenge, however, outscoring the Mountaineers 18-8 over the next five minutes before. Western clawed back but FLC eventually took a 46-33 advantage into the halftime break.
• Another 6-0 start, this time in the second half, helped Fort Lewis pick up the momentum from the first half, eventually growing its lead to over 20 points passing through the midway point of second half action.
• Western would score a trio of 3-pointers in trying to cut into that deficit, the first from McDowell, the second a 3-shot trip to the free throw line from where McDowell sank all three, and finally a triple from Quincy Scott that brought the deficit down to 17.
• But the Skyhawks seemed to be able to answer each time, building back the lead to 27 shortly before the final horn.

COURT NOTES

• McDowell would pace Western in its offensive end, scoring a game-high 21 points, while Scott would add 10 points. But five Skyhawks scored in double figures, led by 17 each from Jaxon Smith and Stewart Erhart.
• The Mountaineers would earn 22 trips to the free throw line, hitting 15 of those attempts, while only allowing FLC a 10-for-16 night from the stripe.
• What hurt Western the most were 21 turnovers that became 24 Skyhawk points, and Fort Lewis' heavy presence in the paint where they outscored the Mountaineers 60-24.

UP NEXT
Another RMAC contest is on the docket for the weekend as Western will take on host New Mexico Highlands in a 3 p.m. Saturday game.