Box Score DENVER - A 3-point basket from Tyler Cooper (Huntington Beach, Calif./Christian Heritage H.S.) with 20 seconds left helped No. 2 Metro State defeat No. 17 Fort Lewis 71-65 on Saturday night. The win increased Metro State's record to 15-0 overall and 11-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.  Metro State is also now 3-0 against ranked opponents on the season.   The loss dropped Fort Lewis' record to 12-2 overall and 9-2 in RMAC play. The Roadrunners become the likely new No. 1 after top-ranked West Liberty (W.Va.) lost earlier this week.

Metro State outscored FLC 9-3 over the final 1:44, breaking a 62-62 tie at the 1:44 mark when Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) made a pair of free throws to give the Roadrunners a 64-62 lead.  Cooper then made a great defensive effort as he stole the ball at the 1:24 mark.  After another foul by the Skyhawks, Kay knocked down another pair of free throws to give the Roadrunners a 66-62 lead.

On the Skyhawks' next possession, Demetrius Miller (Flint, Mich./Flint Central H.S.) fouled Cade Kloster on a 3-point attempt sending Kloster to the line for three shots.  Kloster made all three of his attempts to pull the score to 66-65 in favor of the Roadrunners. 

On Metro State's next possession, Cooper hit a 3-point attempt from the left corner to give the Roadrunners the lead 69-65 with 20 seconds left.  After a timeout and a missed 3-point attempt from the Skyhawks, Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) collected a rebound and then was fouled by Fort Lewis.  Jefferson made both of his free throws to increase the lead to 71-65 which was the final score. 

Metro State was led by 20 points from Jefferson.  Also scoring in double figures was Kay with 18 points and 17 from Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College).  Kay also led the way on the boards with 10 rebounds for his third career double-double.

The game started off back-and-forth as neither team was able to pull away from the other in the opening half.  Metro State then responded with a 9-2 run to put them ahead 11-6 with 16:01 left in the first half.  The Skyhawks responded with a 16-4 run to pull ahead at the 11:18 mark.

Metro State closed the half out over the next 11 minutes with a 16-9 run to pull the score even at 31 at the half.  Metro State entered halftime tied despite only shooting 38 percent from the field while Fort Lewis shot 57 percent. 

In the second half Metro State came out with a 12-3 run to open up the half to give them a 43-34 lead at the 16:18 mark of the second half.  Over almost the next 10 minutes both teams exchanged shots and Metro maintained around a five-point lead.

Then at the 7:56 mark Fort Lewis responded by going on a 12-6 run giving them a 60-58 lead with 3:38 left in the game.  Jefferson was then able to tie the game at 60 a piece after making two free throws at the 3:26 mark.

Metro State then was able to make a defensive stand and Jefferson's jumper from 18 feet put the Roadrunners ahead 62-60.  Kay then made four free throws after Nick Tomsick for the Skyhawks tied the game at 62 each to give the Roadrunners the lead for good.

Overall for the game Metro State shot 40 percent.  The Roadrunners also went 19-24 (.792) from the free throw line.

Fort Lewis was led by 15 points from Alex Herrera. 

Metro State will be back in action on Friday when it travels to Colorado Mesa at 7:30 p.m.