by Brad Blume, SD Mines Sports Information Director
DURANGO, Colo. — The South Dakota Mines men’s basketball team defeated the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks, 84-79, in overtime to win a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup Sunday evening in Durango, Colorado.
The win elevated the Hardrockers to 3-3 on the season and the second RMAC victory in a row for the young team. It is also the second consecutive win in Durango, also earning a victory during the 2018-19 season.
After trailing by five points at the half, 36-31, the Hardrockers were able to knot the game at 54-54, with just over six minutes to play in the second period. It was a back-and-forth battled from there with the lead exchanging hands into the waning seconds.
The ‘Rockers took a one-point edge with 37 second remaining when Kolten Mortensen made good on a layup to make the score 66-65, and then extended the edge to three markers on two free throws from Wilfred Dickson at the :22 second mark.
Skyhawk Corey Seng tied the game with nine second remaining when he hit a jumper in the paint at the other end and added the point after to make it, 68-68. A three-pointer from Brannagh Walsh was off the mark at the other end as the buzzer sounded and sent the game into OT.
Fort Lewis grabbed a four-point advantage to open the extra period, 72-68, but South Dakota Mines battled back. A three-pointer from Brevin Walters at the 2:09 mark tied the game at 75-75, and a steal and breakaway layup from Alejandro Rama (Oglala Lakota) with 1:47 left, gave the visitors a 77-75 lead that they would not surrender. Walter hit another three with 1:08 left. FLC got withing one point, but free throws down the stretch lifted the ‘Rockers to the win.
South Dakota Mines shot 52.6 percent from the field hitting 30-57 attempts, including 5-19 from three-point range, and added a 19-24 performance from the free throw line in the winning effort. They tallied 29 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals and one block.
The Skyhawks made good on 27-58 attempts to shoot 46.6 percent, including 9-26 from downtown and 16-28 from the foul line. They came down with 33 rebounds, had 13 assists, three steals and five blocks.
Individually, Rama pace South Dakota Mines with 24 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Dickson added 16 markers, two rebounds and one assist. Mortensen contributed with 13 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and three steals. Walter finished with 10 points and Walsh had nine.
