DENVER – After a 22-day break due to COVID-19 protocols, the Adams State University men's basketball team returned to action on Friday night as they continued the 2020-21 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference slate at Regis. The Grizzlies overcame a 15-point deficit from early in the second half and finished with a 15-7 run for the win, 69-64.
Adams State now 5-3 on the season and with the same record in the conference relied on steady shooting late in the game for the win.
The game started with senior
Frederick Jackson scoring six of Adams State's first eight points. Regis then capitalized on a 5-0 run to get their first lead of the night, 12-8. Adams State kept the score within arm's reach before the Rangers held the Grizzlies scoreless for 4:23 and went on an 11-0 run of their own.
Trace Dimeff finally ended the run with a three-pointer with 25 seconds left in the first half, however, Regis took a 39-24 lead into the break.
Adams State opened the second half with a 5-0 run to close the gap to ten. Dimeff nailed a trey to cut the lead down to seven, 43-36 at the under-16 media timeout. The Grizzlies rallied back and tied the game at 45 before the Rangers took a slight lead but only for
Destan Williams gave the Grizzlies a 48-47 lead with a corner three-pointer. The game was tied at 50 before a seven-minute delay due to a clean-up on the court.
Williams gave ASU another lead with a layup before the game was tied again at 52 with 6:45 remaining. The Rangers took a lead with just over 5:30 remaining. Adams State then went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead at 62-57, a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Williams was 1-of-6 in the first half however, he regained his composure as he finished the game as the leading scorer for Adams State with 22 points. He finished the game 9-of-17 from the field in the game including 2-of-5 from beyond the arch.
As a team, Adams State shot 51.7 percent (30-of-58) from the field and 7-of-18 (38.9 percent) from beyond the arch.
Adams State returns to action on Saturday at Colorado School of Mines. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.