SALT LAKE CITY (February 25, 2017) – With 10 seconds left, an and-one layup by Zerrion Payton gave Westminster College a 77-75 lead as the Griffins looked to steal the win but Adams State University's Brandon Sly answered with a deep three-pointer with one second remaining to secure a thrilling 78-77 win for the Grizzlies.

Sly's game-winner was significant as it clinched the eighth, and final, seed for the Grizzlies (13-15, 10-12 RMAC) in the upcoming RMAC Tournament.

"Best full team effort we've had in a game this season," Head Coach Russ Caton said after the win. "Everyone gave us some hard minutes. Very fun game to be a part of."

Despite the last-second dramatics, Adams State held control in the opening stanza.

With the score tied 7-7, the Grizzlies used a 10-2 run to pull out to their first sizeable lead. However, the Griffins countered to climb back within three points at 19-16 with 10:21 remaining. Thanks to 15 first half points from Shane Johnson, the Grizzlies pulled ahead once again and established a double digit lead. The ASU lead grew to 13 after Johnson's third consecutive trifecta at the 5:31 mark. The 13 point lead served as ASU's biggest in the first half. The strong start resulted in a 43-31 halftime lead and a 50.0 percent field goal shooting mark. Defensively, the Grizzlies held the Griffins to 37.9 percent shooting from the floor in the first half.

Foul issues after halftime helped bring an end to ASU's double digit lead. The Grizzlies were called for seven fouls less than five minutes into the half to establish the Griffins in the bonus. Westminster College entered the double bonus at the 9:21 mark as ASU's foul count for the half reached 10. The situation resulted in Brandon Pasker fouling out midway through the period with Johnson, Bryan Umoru, and J.R. Tailey each dealing with foul issues of their own.

The foul problems helped the Griffins cut a 14 point deficit down to 3 at the 9:21 mark but the Grizzlies were able to maintain the lead until 5:10 remained. The Griffins claimed a 68-66 lead with a pair of Dayon Goodman free throws but the lead swapped back-and-forth in the final minutes. In the second half, the game featured six lead changes with the score being tied on three occasions.The Griffins would hit 16-of-17 free throws in the second half. 

With a RMAC Tournament berth on the line Sly enforced his will by scoring ASU's final 15 points. Sly's scoring run began with a three-pointer to give ASU a 66-61 lead with 7:33 remaining and concluded with his game-winner with one second left.

Sly posted 18 of his game-high 23 points after halftime. The junior shot 8-of-15 from the field, 4-of-9 from three along with 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Johnson added 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Pasker chipped in 8 points and 5 rebounds in limited action before fouling out in the second half.

Marcus Bryce led the Griffins with 20 points and 8 rebounds in defeat.

The Grizzlies face top-seeded Colorado School of Mines in the quarterfinal round of the RMAC Tournament. Game time is set for 7 p.m. on Feb. 28^th.

For any future updates on ASU men's basketball, stay connected with www.asugrizzlies.com.