SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A rally by the University of Texas Permian Basin made things nerve-wracking for the Adams State University men's basketball team however they opened the 2023-24 season on Friday afternoon inside Behnken Field House with a 70-67 win. The game was the opening game of the South Central Region crossover.
 
Adams State shot 46.9 percent (23-of-49) from the field including 20-of-28 (71.4 percent) from the free throw line.
 
Austin Fadal led the way for the Grizzlies with 17 points as he connected on 7-of-12 from the field and had a 3-of-4 showing from the free throw line. Meanwhile, Destan Williams returned the Grizzly uniform on fire as he scored 16 points, all in the second half, including a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.
 
For the Grizzlies, this is just the second win over the Falcons in eight chances dating back to 2016. The game also doubled as the coaching debut for Head Coach Kenny Tripp who becomes just the second head coach in men's basketball NCAA Division II Era (1992-Present) history to win his coaching debut for the Grizzlies (Louis Wilson – 89-77 W @ Northern N.M.)
 
The game started at a back and forth pace with the Falcons taking an 8-point advantage three minutes into the game, 11-3. That didn't hinder the hopes of the Grizzlies as they battled back and needed just six minutes to pull back and tie the game at 13 before surrendering the lead for the last time on a two-point lead. Adams State then finished the half leading by as many as ten points before they finished the half leading 34-26.
 
The Falcons took some hits but, relentlessly, pulled back to a tie at 44-44 with 10:48 left in the game. That is as close as they got to the win as Adams State closed out the game.
 
Adams State will return to action on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11 when they play Western New Mexico inside the Behnken Field House in the second game of the South Central Region Crossover.