ALAMOSA, Colo.—The Adams State University Men's Basketball team will look to rebound from last Saturday's loss as they host No. 17 Colorado Mesa on Friday.
Game Information
Teams: Adams State (2-1, 2-1 RMAC) vs No. 17 Colorado Mesa (4-0, 4-0 RMAC)
Date: Friday, December 18, 2020
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Alamosa, Colo.
Site: Plachy Hall (2,500)
Series Record: Colorado Mesa leads. 43-27
Coaches
ASU: ASU:
Russ Caton, 64-82 (6th Season, ASU); 116-165 (12th Overall)
CMU: Mike DeGeorge, 44-20 (3rd Season)
Media Coverage (Click Links)
Live Video: RMAC Network (
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/adams/)
ASU Radio: KSPK-FM, 104.1 FM (
http://stream.kspk.com:8000/live.mp3)
Live Stats: ASU Website (
https://asugrizzlies.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary)
Fast Start
Adams State will look to rebound from a last against South Dakota Mines and pull off an upset on Friday when they host Colorado mesa. Tipoff for Friday's contest is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Adams State returns just three letter-winners from last year's squad that finished with an 8-20 record and a 13th place finish in the RMAC.
Cole Arceneaux returns for his third season with the Grizzlies where he averages 2.2 points per game.
Kaelin Crane returns for his second year as a Grizzly. He averaged 13.9 points per game.
Rylan O'Brien averaged 12.1 points per game in his first season last year and will be an impact for the Grizzlies this season.
Adams State fell to South Dakota Mines as a late run by the Hardrockers doomed the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies were led by
Malik Moore who posted 15 points and four rebounds. Also helping the Grizzlies was team-mate Williams with 12 points and three rebounds.
The RMAC Player of the Week for Week 2 saw
Frederick Jackson win the Offensive Player of the Year award. Jackson compiled a double-double with 31 points and 11 rebounds. He helped propel the Grizzlies to an early 17-0 lead to defeat the 3rd ranked team in the coaches poll and shot 14-of-17 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. Of his rebounds, ten were defensive boards. He also added two assists, two steals, and four blocks.
Adams State played two exhibition games during Thanksgiving Week. The Grizzlies took on NCAA Division I Weber State on Wednesday and fell 88-60. On Thanksgiving, the Grizzlies played at NCAA Division I Utah Valley In the game that they lost 100-75.
The Grizzlies were selected to finish 13th in the 2020 RMAC preseason Coaches' poll. ASU received 45 points while the second straight year, Colorado School of Mines has been tabbed as the RMAC Men's Coaches Poll preseason favorite. The Orediggers received 13 first-place votes and a total of 195 points.
Russ Caton returns for his sixth year at the helm and brings in assistant coach
Trend Blackledge who capped off a nine-year professional basketball career in Japan and a stellar career at Division I Marquette University.
About Colorado Mesa
Colorado Mesa enters Friday's matchup with a perfect 4-0 record and on a seven-game winning streak dating back to last season's postseason. They are ranked No. 17 in this week's NABC Coaches' Poll. The Mavericks' were selected to finish fourth in the RMAC Coaches' Poll after winning last season's RMAC tournament championship, the first in their NCAA Division II Era.
Sophomore Ethan Menzies was named RMAC Defensive Player of the Week as the 6-foot-7 forward averaged 15.5 points and 8.0 rebounds last weekend.
In addition to Menzies, who averages 17.5 points per game, the Mavericks have five total players who average ten-plus points per game. Freshman Reece Johnson averages 12.5 points per game and has immediately made an impact on the Grizzlies.
Series History vs. Colorado Mesa
Colorado Mesa holds a 43-24 advantage over the Grizzlies as they enter Friday's game. Friday's game will be the 68th game since Dec. 9, 1978.
In Alamosa, the Mavericks hold a 17-14 advantage while they hold a one-sided 25-9 in Grand Junction. The two teams have met twice on a neutral court with the two teams splitting those two games and they have met once in the postseason where the Mavericks have won the lone game.
The Mavericks' longest winning streak was a six-game span from Jan. 29, 1988 to Feb. 23, 1989. The Grizzlies had a five-game winning streak from Feb. 11, 2006 to Feb. 16, 2008.
The Mavericks are currently on a four-game winning streak including the two games last season. The last time the Grizzlies won was on Dec. 9, 2018 at Grand Junction.
Broadcast Information
Friday's 2020 finale against Colorado Mesa will be broadcast live on the RMAC Network (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/adams/) and will be produced by Adams State. Since spectators will not be allowed to attend the game in person, fans can tune in and follow along with live stats (https://asugrizzlies.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary).
In addition, KSPK-FM will once again serve as the official radio station of Adams State Athletics. TJ Blackhurst will call Friday's action for Adams State.
Fans can access the game online (http://stream.kspk.com:8000/live.mp3) or on the radio dial KSPK can be heard on 100.3 in Colorado Springs, Alamosa and the San Luis Valley, 104.1 in South Fork and Trinidad, and 102.3 in Pueblo and Walsenburg.
Up Next
The Grizzlies will now be off until Jan. 2 and 3, 2021 when they play at MSU Denver and Colorado Christian. Both games are set to start at 4:00 p.m.
Due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 in the San Luis Valley and Colorado, all Adams State University home and away games for the 2020-21 season will be played without spectators. ASU Athletics will continuously re-evaluate the policy as local and state guidelines change.
