ALAMOSA, Colo. - The Adams State Men's Basketball team hosts Fort Lewis College this Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The Grizzlies are seeking to earn their first win of the season as RMAC play begins.
OPPONENT: Fort Lewis College Skyhawks (4-1, 0-0 RMAC)
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018 - 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Alamosa, Colo. - Plachy Hall Gymnasium
Tip-Off
The Grizzlies are off to a rough start, beginning their 2018-19 season 0-5. Adams State have played eight games overall this season. However, three of those games were exhibition games where the Grizzlies defeated Colorado College and Northern New Mexico College.
The Grizzlies are coming off the Angelo State Thanksgiving Tournament. The Grizzlies opened up against Central Baptist College. It was a high scoring affair between both teams. The Mustangs were challenged by the Grizzlies the entire game, but were able to hold on for the 107-99 victory. The Grizzlies second loss of the tournament came to Angelo State. The Grizzlies went into halftime leading the Rams, 38-37. However, a late push by the Rams was enough to give them the 92-83 victory.
John Dewey is leading the charge for the Grizzlies in points. Dewey is averaging a team-high 23.6 points per game this season. In just five games, Dewey has scored well over 100 points. He is also leading the team in assists with 5.2 per game. Rickey Norris is the team's second leading scorer averaging just over 15 per game. Davere Creighton rounds out the Grizzlies' double-figure scorers with 12.4 points per game.
Rickey Norris leads the team in boards with an average of 6.2 this season. John Dewey follows him racking up 5.2 boards of his own per game. Davere Creighton sits at third in the Grizzlies rebounding arsenal with 4.6 boards per game.
Adams State is averaging an incredible 87.6 points per game as a team. The Grizzlies are shooting near 46% from the field and 30% from behind the arc. Adams State is giving up just over 97 points to its opponents, while shooting 51% from the field.
Scouting the Skyhawks
The Skyhawks are off to a 4-1 record in the 2018-19 season. The Skyhawks lone loss came in their second game of the season against Western New Mexico University. The Mustangs pulled out a hard fought win against the Skyhawks at home, 74-70. Since the loss, the Skyhawks are riding a three-game winning streak heading into Saturday's match against the Grizzlies.
The Skyhawks came against Northern New Mexico College (83-60), University of the Southwest (65-62), and Haskell Indian Nations University (88-70). The Skyhawks begin RMAC play on the road against the Grizzlies this Saturday.
The Skyhawks have four players averaging double-figures in scoring heading into this weekend's matchup. Marquel Beasley is leading the team with 20.4 points per game this season. Riley Farris sits in second averaging 13.3 points in four games played. Alex Semadeni and Otas Lyekekpolar are averaging 10.8 and 10.2 points respectively for the Skyhawks this season.
Beasley, Semadeni, and Lyekekpolar are also the team leaders in rebounding for the Skyhawks this season. Each one is averaging over seven boards per game. Most of the boards are predominantly on the defensive side for each of the players. Semadeni leads the team in assists with a 4.8 average this season. AJ Sparks is contributing 3.0 assists per game to the Skyhawks offense as well.
The Skyhawks are averaging 77.6 points per game, while holding their opponents to just 68 points. The Skyhawks are even with their opponents in field goal percentage with a 42% average.
Up Next
The Grizzlies will be on the road next weekend to take on a pair of conference foes. Adams State plays CSU-Pueblo Dec. 7 with a tip-off at 7:30 p.m. The Grizzlies follow that game with a matchup against New Mexico Highlands Dec. 8 beginning at 7 p.m.
