Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – It was another thriller in Silver City Friday night between Fort Lewis College and Western New Mexico University.


It seems like when these teams match up on Drag's Court, the game will come down to one or two possessions. Friday was no different.


On a big offensive rebound by Chad Carter (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School) and ensuing three by Juan Suarez (Nogales, AZ/Nogales High School) and later  go ahead free throws by Lucio Luttrell (Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces High School) gave the Western New Mexico University (WNMU) men's basketball team an unbelievable, 66-64, upset win over No. 20 Fort Lewis College (FLC) in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


FLC (14-4, 11-4 RMAC) went ahead by four, 64-60, with just 1:23 to play. Then, things appeared to be heading in the wrong direction, as Andy Sohlich (Battle Creek, MI/St. Phillip Catholic Central High School) missed a three, but Carter stepped up with a weak side rebound and then kicked it back out to Suarez. Suarez originally looked to pass or drive, but was left open at the top-of-the-key after a screen and confidently stepped up and hit the shot to bring WNMU (8-12, 7-9 RMAC) within one, 64-63, with 51 seconds to play.


On the ensuing Skyhawk possession, they struggled to get a shot off and eventually a turnover in the corner forced by Luttrell would lead to a foul on the scramble sending him to the line with 24 seconds to play. Luttrell cashed in both foul shots to leave WNMU in front, 65-64.


FLC again had a tough time getting a shot off on their next trip down the floor, as they went under the hoop, but the ball was knocked loose and eventually went out of bounds off FLC giving WNMU the ball back with 12 seconds to play.


WNMU would in-bound to Sohlich who was fouled with nine seconds to play. Sohlich missed the first, but then made the second to extend the lead to two, 66-64.
With no timeouts remaining, FLC quickly threw the ball in and pushed it up the floor. Marcus Ayala attempted to hand the ball off to sharp-shooter Nick Tomsick, who has already beaten several teams this season with last second shots, but the Mustangs wouldn't let him get the ball. Ayala then turned and had an open path to the hoop, but his layup missed off the side of the rim and by the time FLC collected the rebound on the other side, time had expired sending the near-capacity crowd into a frenzy.


WNMU opened the game strong, jumping out to a six-point lead, 11-5, six minutes in on a three from Carter. Carter exploded for 11 points in the first half.


FLC would come back to take a 16-15 lead at the 7:49 mark and toward the end of the first half, they jumped the lead to their largest of the night, 31-19, with 1:34 to go before halftime. WNMU had a big run at the end of the half, as they turned it on to go on a 5-0 run with Merle Branch (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena High School) coming back quickly to score a fastbreak jumper in the paint and then Sohlich connected from distance leaving WNMU behind by just seven, 31-24.


The Skyhawks would hold the lead throughout the second half, holding a lead by as many as six with 9:51 to play when the Mustangs began to make their move.
They would cut the deficit back to one, 54-53, on a three from Suarez and later moved the lead to four, 57-53, on a jumper by Luttrell. FLC countered to regain the lead and later hold a four-point advantage when the Mustangs came back for good.


Luttrell scored a career-and-game high 25 points, making 8-of-9 from the field, including a 3-for-4 effort from downtown. He also had four rebounds. Carter was also in the 20's, going for 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the team. Suarez made it into double-figures with 10.


Big man Alex Herrera led FLC with 20 points and 12 rebounds.


FLC made right at 50 percent (25-50) of their shots, while WNMU hit just over 40 percent (23-57). WNMU made more three-pointers (8-2), while each team made 12 free throws.


WNMU will look to upset another ranked team Saturday night when they will host No. 14 Adams State University with game time at 7:30 p.m. inside Drag's Court. New Mexico Highlands edged Adams State, 74-72, Friday night.