ALAMOSA, Colo. - Adams State Men's Basketball had a solid shooting night as they secured a 98-89 RMAC win over rival Western Colorado. With the win the Grizzlies snap a three-game losing streak to improve to 5-11 overall and 5-6 in RMAC play.

The Grizzlies had their second-highest shooting percentage of the season shooting 53.8% on 35-65 made shots. The percentage is also their highest in a conference game this season. Their point total is also their second highest this year.

The Mountaineers (3-14, 0-11 RMAC) were 48.3% on the night on 29-60 shooting while going 12-19 for 41.4% from three-point range. They edged the Grizzlies in three-point shooting as the home team was just 6-2 for 27.3%.

Both teams wasted little time putting points on the board early in what turned into a track meet for much of the night. Through the first 5:05 to play in the game the two teams were deadlocked in a tie at 15-all.

The Mountaineers managed to jump out to a 15-10 lead with the help of three made triples in the first five minutes of action. Despite the early makes from deep, the Grizzlies responded each time. Trailing by five, John Dewey hit a quick layup followed by a Davere Creighton three to tie the game.

The two teams continued to trade shots but the Grizzlies fast pace down the floor off made or missed shots from the Mountaineers help them take the lead. A Shemar Johnson dunk in transition put the Grizzlies up five, 25-20.

The Mountaineers looked to answer with a long jump shot to make it 25-22, but Szymon Walczak immediately countered it with a drive to the paint for a layup and drew contact for the foul. He completed the three point play to give the Grizzlies a six-point lead, 26-20, with 11:41 on the clock.

Western Colorado then slowed the game down for the next four minutes and held Adams State to just three points and scored nine to tie the game at 29-29 with just over seven minutes to play in the first half.

Following a Dewey layup with 6:48 on the clock, the Mountaineers hit a deep three to regain the lead 32-31. The tempo never truly picked back up in the final six minutes but late free throws from the Grizzlies helped them secure the lead at halftime.

Rickey Norris drove the lane with 1:13 on the clock for a layup and drew contact for the foul and a chance at a three point play. His made free throw tied the game at 40-all. Walczak and Johnson each hit a pair of free throws as well in the final minute as the Grizzlies ended the half 5-5 at the charity strip.

Walczak poured in 11 first half points to help Adams State lead 44-40 at the break. Dewey and Johnson each chipped in eight points while Creighton added seven as Adams State shot 56.7% from the floor on 17-30 made shots.

Coming out of the break, both the Grizzlies and the Mountaineers once again picked up the pace as they combined for 17 points in the first three minutes of play. The Grizzlies jumped out to a seven-point lead, 52-45 before back-to-back layups from the Mountaineers made it a three-point game, 52-49.

The Mountaineers looked to keep the game within striking distance but quick responses from the home team never allowed them to get closer than four points in the final 17 minutes of play. Like they did in the first half, strong shooting helped the Grizzlies stay out in front the whole time.

A corner three from Walczak gave Adams State a nine-point advantage, 61-52, with 14:27 to play in the game. Western Colorado cut it to six with a three of its own but a put back layup from RJ Brown followed by a fastbreak layup from Dewey made it a 10-point game, 65-55.

The Grizzlies led by as much as 13 in the second half when Justice Augmon hit a jumper with 12:30 to go in regulation to make it a 70-57 lead. They led by that margin three more times in the final 12 minutes before securing the nine-point home win.

Dewey and Creighton each scored in double figures in the second half as the Grizzlies shot over 50% again. Dewey put up 19 while Creighton added 10 as the Grizzlies hit 18-35 shots for 51.4%. Also helping the Grizzlies secure the win was 61-28 points in the paint advantage to go along with four of their five starters scoring in double figures.

Dewey led all scorers for the game for the second straight night with 27 points. He shot 10-18 overall and was 5-6 at the free throw line. He also dished out five assists and had three steals. Creighton finished with 17 points on 5-13 shooting to go along with eight boards. Johnson added 16 points and led the team in rebounds with nine. Walczak scored 14 points off the bench on 5-7 shooting. Norris rounded things out with 13 points and had six boards.

The Mountaineers also had five players finish in double figures. Cole Sienknecht led the way with 22 points on 7-13 made shots and had six boards. Brady Subart put up 20 points and had a game-high six assists. James Willis added 12 points to go along with five rebounds. Monroe Porter and Joran Ticeson each chipped in 11 points, while Porter led the team in rebound with seven.

The Grizzlies will start a four game road stint next week. They get the trip started on Friday, Jan. 25 with a match-up at Colorado Christian.