SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster men's basketball team fell victim to a 3-point barrage from No. 18 Fort Lewis College as the visiting Skyhawks took an 89-74 win over the Griffins on Saturday night in the Behnken Field House.
 
For the second straight night Westminster (8-7, 4-7 RMAC) started slowly and trailed by double figures early. Fort Lewis (13-3, 8-3) started the game with a 21-4 run behind 5 of 8 shooting from beyond the arc. The visitors made a total of 15 threes in the game and led by double figures all but one possession the rest of the game.
 
After shooting just 33.3 percent in the first half and trailing 44-29 at intermission, the Griffins tried to find a way back into the game. They managed a 10-2 run – capped with a Zerrion Payton 3-pointer – midway through the second half to get within 67-57 with 7:54 to play. FLC answered with eight of the game's next 10 points to put the game away.
 
Westminster finished the game shooting 41.9 percent from the field and they had 16 assists and only nine turnovers. They made 7 of 12 from beyond the arc and scored 14 points from 15 offensive rebounds.
 
Casey Evans led the Griffins with 20 points on 9 of 13 shooting. This is his third 20-point game of the season to lead the team. Payton added 19 points with nine rebounds and eight assists. Brandon Warr notched his second straight double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The 15 made 3-pointers by Fort Lewis are the most the Griffins have allowed in a game this season. The Skyhawks had 20 assists on 29 baskets with eight turnovers which the Griffins turned into 17 points.
 
Will Morse made six of those threes and finished with a game-high 23 points.
 
The Griffins will be back in action on Friday at Chadron State when they begin a stretch of six of the next eight games on the road.