Fort Lewis Claim 2023 RMAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – No. 2 seed Fort Lewis claimed the 2023 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Championship Saturday with an 82-76 result over No. 4 Colorado School of Mines inside Brownson Arena in Grand Junction, Colo. Akuel Kot was named the tournament Most Valuable Player after logging a 59-percent shooting average over three games in the RMAC Tournament.
Kot and Obi Agbim built momentum for the Skyhawks as the team concluded the opening half with a 56.6-percent shooting average. Agbim concluded the game with 19 points on an 8-for-12 average from the field to go along with a 50-percent clip from beyond the arc. The sophomore hit back-to-back threes in the first half to give the Skyhawks even more energy heading into the second half. Kot finished the game with 23 points while shooting 8-for-11 from the field and 5-for-7 from the free-throw line.
The Orediggers did not go down quietly and put up a fight in the second period, where they outscored the Skyhawks 43-40. Adam Thistlewood recorded a game-high 26 points with a blistering 70-percent field-goal average and was crucial for the Orediggers down the stretch with a pair of key three-pointers in the second half. In addition to Thistlewood’s antics, Brendan Sullivan completed the contest with 17 points for Mines.
While Kot headlined the 2023 RMAC All-Tournament team, FLC’s Brenden Boatwright, Junior Garbrah and Agbim were also named to the roster. Mines’ Thistlewood and Sullivan joined Black Hills State’s Joel Scott and Colorado Mesa’s Blaise Threatt as the final members of the all-tournament team.
Following the win, the Skyhawks have secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament, which begins on Friday, March 10. They will learn of their opening-round opponent is during the selection show on Sunday, March 5, at 8:30 p.m. MT.
2023 Men’s Basketball All-Tournament Team
| Name |
Pos. |
Class |
School |
| Akuel Kot (MVP) |
G |
Jr. |
Fort Lewis |
| Obi Agbim |
G |
So. |
Fort Lewis |
| Brenden Boatwright |
F/C |
Sr. |
Fort Lewis |
| Junior Garbrah |
G |
Jr. |
Fort Lewis |
| Brendan Sullivan |
G/F |
R-Sr. |
Colorado School of Mines |
| Adam Thistlewood |
F |
R-Sr. |
Colorado School of Mines |
| Joel Scott |
F |
R-Jr. |
Black Hills State |
| Blaise Threatt |
G |
R-So. |
Colorado Mesa |