ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Adams State Grizzlies Men's Basketball team fell in their conference opener to the CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves 60-72 at home Friday night, in a game that was defined by the second half play of the Thunderwolves. The loss drops the Grizzlies to 2-5 on the young season, and is the Grizzlies' third straight defeat.
 
In what was a hotly contested first half on both ends of the floor, the Grizzlies trailed by just seven headed into intermission. The Grizzlies shot the ball poorly in the first half, and it seemed like if they were to maintain their strong defensive performance and clean up the shooting, that they would have the Thunderwolves right where they wanted them for the remainder of the game. Unfortunately for them, the shooting did not improve in the second half, and the Thunderwolves sent an offensive flurry in the second half that ended the Grizzlies' chances of clawing their way back into the ballgame. In the end, they fell to their conference foes in their first RMAC test of the season.
 
The Thunderwolves finished the game with five players in double figures to just the Grizzlies one in senior Rickey Norris, who played hard all night and finished with 17 points, but did not get the support he needed on the offensive end to have his efforts rewarded with a victory. In 23 minutes, Norris was the lone Grizzly who was able to get anything going on both ends, as he finished the night with five rebounds, all on the defensive glass.
 
The Thunderwolves knew that they would have to stop Adams State leading scorer Kaelin Crane to have a chance to win, and they did exactly that, holding the junior to three points on one of six from the field. It was by far Crane's toughest night of the season, and he hopes to bounce back into form tomorrow night against Highlands.
 
Late in the game, bench player Dera Vixon got his chance to show off his offensive skills with the Grizzlies down by a large margin, and the guard showcased his smooth jumper shooting four for four from the field in 10 minutes of action and finishing with eight points. He joined Szymon Walczak as the Grizzlies co-second leading scorers, as each finished with eight on the night.
 
There was plenty to like from the Grizzlies Friday night, and they hope to clean up mistakes that caused their loss and go get a win versus another conference opponent in the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys on Saturday. They will have to shoot better from deep to do this, as they finished just 4-22 from three point range. They will be back in action again tomorrow night against Highlands, same place and same time as tonight, in search of their first RMAC victory.