ALAMOSA, Colo. - The Adams State Men's Basketball team is on the road this weekend for a pair of conference games. The Grizzlies take on CSU-Pueblo on Friday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Adams State continues the weekend trip with a game against New Mexico Highlands Saturday at 7 p.m.
OPPONENTS
CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves (2-5, 0-1 RMAC)
New Mexico Highlands Cowboys (5-1, 1-0 RMAC)
WHEN
Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 - 7 p.m.
WHERE
Pueblo, Colo. - Massari Arena
Las Vegas, N.M. - John A. Wilson Complex
Tip-Off
The Grizzlies are coming off their first win of the season this past weekend against Fort Lewis College. The victory brought the team its' first win in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Grizzlies head into this weekend with an overall record at 1-5.
Adams State defeated Fort Lewis in an up and down game that needed overtime to decide the outcome. The Grizzlies pulled off the 68-60 victory over the Skyhawks in Plachy Hall. The Grizzlies found themselves playing from behind early on against the Skyhawks. Adams State pushed their way past the Skyhawks to lead 31-26 at halftime.
The Skyhawks opened the second half with a 12-2 spurt to surpass the Grizzlies, 38-33. The lead was short-lived as the Grizzlies rallied off eight straight points to take a three point lead over the Skyhawks midway through the second half.
Both teams continued to trade baskets throughout the second half. Two clutch free-throws by Davere Creighton sent the game into overtime with both teams tied at 55.
The Grizzlies didn't waste time taking the lead in overtime. Adams State wheeled off the first eight points in the extra period. The Skyhawks soon cut the lead down to just four points. However, that was the closest the Skyhawks would get as the Grizzlies put the game away, 68-60.
Shemar Johnson and Davere Creighton were the team leaders in points with 17 for the game. Creighton also grabbed 12 boards for the Grizzlies, 10 of them on the defensive side. Rickey Norris brought in 12 points from off the bench for the Grizzlies.
Adams State is averaging 84 points per game on close to 45% shooting from the field. John Dewey is leading the team in points with an average of 19.7 per game. Rickey Norris is second in scoring at 14.7 points per game. Norris is leading the team in boards, averaging 6.3 per game.
Scouting the Thunderwolves
The Thunderwolves are off to a 2-5 record in the 2018-19 season. The Thunderwolves dropped their first conference game this past weekend against New Mexico Highlands. It was an even played game between the two teams. However, the Cowboys were able to outlast the Thunderwolves to claim the 89-84 victory.
The Thunderwolves are putting up 77 points on their opponents this season. The team is averaging 26 made baskets on 47% shooting. The Thunderwolves have been cleaning up the glass with nearly 36 boards per game.
Donovan Oldham is leading the team in scoring with a 14.9 average per game this season. Jason Anderson contributes 12.4 points per game for the Thunderwolve offense. Cade Carrol rounds out the Thunderwolves double-figure scorers with an 11 point average through seven games.
Not only do Oldham, Carrol, and Anderson lead the team in scoring but rebounding as well. The three players are averaging 15.8 boards per game as a trio. Anderson leads the team snatching 6.1 boards per game. Carrol is second at 5.1 rebounds per game with Oldham not far behind at 4.6.
Scouting the Cowboys
The Cowboys are rolling to start the season. The Cowboys are 5-1 in the 2018-19 season and 1-0 in the RMAC. New Mexico Highlands defeated CSU-Pueblo in the team's first conference game of the season.
CSU-Pueblo gave New Mexico Highlands all that they could handle but failed to overcome the Cowboys offense. The Cowboys escaped with a 89-84 victory over the Thunderwolves at home last weekend. Raquan Mitchell led the team with 22 points for the night.
The Cowboys are averaging 89 points on their opponents this season. New Mexico Highlands is beating its opponents by an average of 10 points. The Cowboys are shooting 47% from the field, while holding their opponents to 44%.
The Cowboys have four players averaging double-figures in scoring this season. Gerard Davis is the Cowboys leading scorer, putting up over 21 points per game. Raquan Mitchell has contributed 15 points for the Cowboys in his six games played this season. Jordan Jones and Nnamdi Okoro finish off the Cowboys scoring leaders at 13.8 and 11.3 points per game.
Okoro tops the team in rebounding at 8.2 per game for the Cowboys. Gerad Davis is second on the team averaging 6.0 boards per game. Raquan Mitchell caps off the Cowboys leading rebounders with a 5.2 average this season.
Up Next
The Grizzlies will be back at home next weekend for a pair of conference games. Adams State plays Black Hills State Friday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The Grizzlies follow that game with a matchup against South Dakota School of Mines Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
