DURANGO, Colo. --- The South Dakota School of Mines men's basketball team pulled off a big overtime victory over the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks, 76-67, Saturday night during a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup in Durango, Colorado.
It was the first time the Hardrockers have defeated the Skyhawks --- since joining the RMAC three years ago. It was also only the third lossthe Skyhawks have suffered on FLC's home floor in the the last 53 games played at that location.
The Skyhawks led, 31-23, at the end of the first half and maintained an eight-point edge early in the second period. But the Hardrockers chipped away at the deficit and with just under 11 minutes remaining in regulation was able to take their first lead of the game, 46-45, on a jumper from
Troy Brady.
The Skyhawks regained the advantage and led by as much as five points, only to see the 'Rockers rally back and regain the edge with 2:08 to go on a
Allec Williams steal and break-away dunk. It was a tug-of-war from there and eventually the buzzer sounded with both teams displaying 64 points on the scoreboard.
The Hardrockers took the momentum early when Williams recorded another steal and found a trailing Mitch Sueker to deliver the ball to for a fastbreak dunk at the 3:54 mark as SD Mines went up, 66-64. FLC knotted the game on their possesion with two free throws from Otas Iyekekpolor.
The 'Rockers got clutch jump shots from
Logan Elers and
Troy Brady while the SD Mines defense stiffened. Sueker provided a pair of free throws and the overtime scoring was capped off by a
Damani Hayes dunk with 17 seconds remaing to provide the nail in the coffin.
SD Mines finished the RMAC bout shooting 31-58 in the game for 64 percent (three from behind the arch) and were solid at the foul line, making good on 11-12 for 91.7 percent. The Skyhawks were 21-56 from the field to shoot 37.5 percent, had a 10-28 performance from three-point range and was 15-20 from the foul line.
The Hardrockers came down with 44 rebounds in the game while FLC grabbed 21. SD Mines finished with 33 assist, nine steals and one block on the night.
Elers led the way for the Hardrockers with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Brady, who was a spark in the second half of action, posted 15 points, had four assists, two steals and one rebound. Hayes cashed in for 12 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal. Sueker and Williams both contributed with eight points each.
