SILVER CITY, N.M. – Despite shooting nearly 40 percent and tallying an edge at the foul line, Fort Lewis College was just too much for the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team Friday night as the Skyhawks claimed a 88-62 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory.

FLC (16-5, 11-4 RMAC) scored over a minute in and would hold the lead the rest of the way despite a couple of ties by WNMU (2-18, 2-14 RMAC). Steven Loucks (Yuma, AZ/Cibola) knotted the game at two with a jumper in the paint off the fastbreak. Another early tie at 4-all happened on a layup by Marcos Castrillo (San Francisco, CA/Pinole Valley).

The Skyhawks then went on a 7-0 run to hold the lead the rest of the half. Although FLC built the lead as high as 13 near the midway point of the half, WNMU kept coming.

Loucks moved the deficit to nine with a jumper and then a pair of free throws by Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) left the lead at just seven, 25-18, with 8:12 to go before the break.

Terrez Scott (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia) again helped bring WNMU to within seven a pair of times with the last coming with three minutes to go in the half on a layup.

The Skyhawks looked to be heading into the break ahead by 12, but a three-pointer at the buzzer by Scott left it 42-33 in favor of FLC at the break.

Loucks led WNMU with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting, he also grabbed four rebounds. Scott tallied eight points and Adam Kesler (Silver City, NM/Silver) came off the bench to tally seven. Alex Herrera was already at a double-double following the first 20 minutes with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Both teams shot well with FLC making 18-of-35 (51.4) and WNMU connecting on 13-of-31 (41.9).

WNMU continued to keep the deficit around seven early in the second half with points from Loucks, Scott and Castrillo. Having fallen behind by 10 a few minutes later, a Tanter layup and Scott three had the Mustangs within five, 49-44, with 15:29 to play.

That would end up being as close as WNMU would get the rest of the way as FLC countered with a 6-0 run.

Four Mustangs reached double-figures led by 15 from Loucks. He also brought down a team-high eight boards, added a block, two assists and two steals. Scott and Kesler added 13 apiece, while Tanter went for 12. Kesler added a team-best four steals. Herrera led FLC with 24 points and 14 rebounds. He also added two assists, three blocks and a steal.

FLC ended up shooting 55.9 percent (33-59), while WNMU made 20-of-51 (39.2). FLC held an edge on three-pointers (11-6), while WNMU had a 16-11 advantage on free throws.

WNMU will host Adams State University Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The Grizzlies defeated New Mexico Highlands, 98-84, tonight.