LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Adams State Grizzlies Men's Basketball team dropped their second straight contest Saturday night on the road, falling to the Colorado Christian Cougars 73-86. The disappointing defeat now drops the Grizzlies to 5-12 in the RMAC, and on a more significant note, the Grizzlies have still yet to win a road game within conference play.
 
The two teams went into half with a tight four-point margin separating them, as CCU led 37-33. The Grizzlies, who had overpowered the Cougars on their home floor in the second half just two weeks ago, had little reason to panic coming out of halftime. Saturday was a different story, as Colorado Christian, thanks to their strong play on the boards, came out and played a great second half to further increase their lead and leave the night with an 86-73 victory. Rickey Norris registered his second-straight double-double, playing a great game on both ends with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists. He led the Grizzlies in all stat categories Saturday.
 
Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, Norris was the only starter in double figures, as the Cougars minimized Adams State's guard play better than anyone had all year. The Cougars imposed their size upon the shorter Grizzlies, outrebounding them 51-33 on the evening. For the second straight night the Grizzlies had a tough shooting game, totaling a percentage of just 39.4% on 28-71 from the field.
 
The Grizzlies' key bench players showed up to play, as Kaelin Crane (16 points) and Nana Appiah (15 points) did their best to help Norris shoulder the load on the offensive end. Though Appiah fouled out, he played 33 tough minutes off the bench for the Grizzlies in what was one of his best performances of the year with 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, as well as a steal on defense.
 
Coach Russ Caton's team had hoped to get a victory against the reeling Cougars Saturday night, but in the end came up short, and will have to go back to the drawing board and prepare for Tough opponents Westminster and Dixie State on the road next weekend. The Grizzlies are desperate for a road victory this late in the season, and having fought hard against Westminster as well defeating Dixie State last weekend, they hope that they can get those elusive road victories and once again try and build momentum for a playoff run.