DENVER, Colo. The Regis University men's basketball team (12-5, 6-5 RMAC) returned home to the Regis Fieldhouse to battle the Fort Lewis College Skyhawks (15-3, 11-2 RMAC) on Friday night. Regis lost a heart wrenching game in overtime, 85-83 to the top-ranked team in the conference.
 
How It Happened: It came down to missed free-throws in the crucial minutes of the second half and overtime for the Rangers that led to their demise. RU held a two-point advantage 39-37 at halftime, having shot the ball at a 50 percent clip from the field and holding the visiting Skyhawks to only 44 percent shooting.  Sienko had a big opening half with 11 points and three blocks on the defensive end.
 
An 8-0 run in the middle of the second half put the home side in front of FLC 61-54 with less than 11 minutes left in the game. Another little spurt saw Regis take an 11-point lead on a three-pointer from the leading scorer in the game, senior Ty McGee. All seemed right as the team buckled down on defense and seemed to be rolling on offense.
 
At the 5:43 mark, McGee converted a layup to go up by seven points, 71-64, but the Skyhawks started to pick things up on both ends. Less than two minutes later the game was tied at 71 points apiece following a 7-0 run from the visitors. The teams battled for the momentum and the play that would destroy the other team's faith. FLC hit a free-throw with 18 seconds on the clock to take a 77-75 lead. Miscommunication on offense led to a turnover for the Rangers, who were forced to foul and send the Skyhawks to the foul line.
 
Both free throws clanked off the rim and with nine seconds left, McGee raced down the floor skying above all the defenders, laying the ball off the glass and through the net with one second remaining. FLC drew up an inbounds play that rimmed out and the teams were set for overtime tied at 77 points. Five missed free-throws from RU in the final 1:40 proved to be most costly.
 
Junior Avonte Nelms scored the first basket of overtime and McGee converted 1-of-2 shots from the charity stripe for a quick 3-0 run. The visitors closed the game on a 8-3 run thanks to three missed free-throws in the final 53 seconds of overtime. Trailing by three, Regis was fouled intentionally to prevent them from launching a game-tying three pointer. After making the first, the team made a last ditch effort to intentionally miss the free throw for a chance to get the rebound and have another chance. The rebound fell to the hands of FLC and they dribbled out the clock for the 85-83 win.
 
Game Notes: McGee (11-16 FG, 6-13 FT) led all players with 29 points on the night which was a season-high. He also grabbed 10 rebounds on the night for his first double-double this season. Sienko added 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting but he fouled out before overtime. The big-guy had a game for the ages as he swatted a career-high seven shots on the night, recording eight rebounds, two steals and two assists as well. The Rangers finished the night 31-of-65 (47.7 percent) from the field, holding their opponents to 44.7 percent (34-76 FG, 1-13 3-pt) from the field.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The men's basketball team will play the Adams State University Grizzlies tomorrow night at the Regis Fieldhouse at 7 pm.