Box Score

PUEBLO, Colo. - Metro State dug itself a 12-point hole at halftime and fell just short in a comeback, losing 56-54 to Fort Lewis on Friday at the semifinals of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout in Pueblo.  The Roadrunners dropped to 21-7, while FLC improved to 21-7.

Metro State shot just 33.3 percent in the first half, while allowing the Skyhawks to hit at a 55.6 percent clip to trail 34-22 at halftime.  It was Metro State's lowest first-half point total this season.

The Roadrunners cut the lead to nine just 2:30 into the second half on a layup by Jonathan Morse (Boulder, Colo./Fairview H.S.), but DeAndre Lansdowne and Daniel Steffensen hit back-to-back 3-pointers just 12 seconds apart to build a 15-point lead at 41-26 with 16:21 to play.

Consecutive layups by Shakir Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif./Dorsey H.S.) sparked a 6-0 run to bring the deficit back to single digits.  The Roadrunners continued to chip away at the lead over the final 10 minutes and cut it to 52-49 with 5:12 on the clock.  That was as close as Metro State would get until the final minute when Quaran Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends' Central H.S.)'s layup cut the lead to just one at 55-54 with 30 seconds left.

After David Kanyinda hit 1-of-2 at the line with 24 seconds left, Metro State had three opportunities to tie or take the lead.  Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.)'s 3-pointer from the left corner rimmed out with 14 seconds left.  The Roadrunners maintained possession after the rebound deflected out of bounds off a Fort Lewis player.  But #A.J. Flournoy# was called for stepping on the sideline after the inbounds pass.  Kanyinda missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 4.6 seconds left, but a desperation shot by Reggie Evans (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview H.S.) from just inside halfcourt missed off the backboard to end the game.

Quaran Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends' Central H.S.) led the Roadrunners with 11 points, hitting 4-of-8 from the floor including two 3-pointers.  Glenn Miller (Sacramento, Calif./Foothill H.S.), Morse and Jefferson all had eight points.  Miller hit 8-of-8 at the line and pulled down eight rebounds.

Metro State's leading scorer Evans was held to just seven points, though he had nine rebounds to lead Metro State.  Evans entered the game averaging 17.4 points for the season.  The Roadrunners are just 1-4 this season when Evans does not score in double figures.

Metro State had won the past two RMAC Shootout championships.

Metro State will find out its first round NCAA Tournament opponent on Sunday evening.