PUEBLO, Colo. (December 5, 2014) – Despite a game-high 24 points from
Travante Williams the Adams State University men's basketball team fell 90-81 to the Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves in their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) opener.
Trailing CSU-Pueblo at the midway point during the first half, a Williams three-pointer gave the Grizzlies their first lead at 20-19. The two RMAC foes would exchange buckets until the ThunderWolves went on a 14-7 run in the final 4:36 of the half. At the break Adams State trailed 47-38 with the Grizzly bench contributing 20 points. Exluding Williams' 16 points in the opening stanza, ASU's starting five experienced a difficult half as
Shakir Smith and
Bruno Machado were held scoreless while
Michael Middlebrooks and
Rodney Nelson each added one point off free throws.
The Grizzlies quickly tightened the CSU-Pueblo lead to one possession at the 17:05 mark in the second half. Adams State began the period with an 8-2 run capped off by a Middlebrooks dunk. The slam made it a 49-46 contest but the ThunderWolves soon pulled away. The CSU-Pueblo lead stretch to 13 with a Devonte Malcolm three-pointer that forced ASU to burn a timeout. The see-saw battle continued as Smith drained a three-pointer; cutting the CSU-Pueblo lead to four at 75-71 with 6:30 remaining. It was the closest ASU would get as the ThunderWolves went 10-11 from the charity stripe after Smith's three to maintain their lead.
Williams shot 6-10 from the field, 3-4 from three, and 9-12 from the free throw line en route to his 24 points. The junior also pulled down five rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
Juwan Buchanan and
Mike Hemsley added 14 and 13 points, respectively, off the bench.
Josh Smith had 18 points to lead the ThunderWolves. Making a difference in the conference tilt were free throws as CSU-Pueblo shot 33-44 (75%) while the Grizzlies were 17-28 (60%).
Adams State will be back to the court tomorrow night against the No. 8 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Mountain Lions. Tip off is slated for 7:30 p.m. from Colorado Springs.
