The Mustangs were hoping not to repeat Thursday night. WNMU held a solid lead at halftime both Thursday and tonight. On Thursday, the 15-point lead quickly dwindled to force double overtime and tally a loss. Tonight the Mustangs' nine-point halftime lead against Adams State was gone with 12 minutes left to play in the game, but WNMU held on and took the victory, 83-79.

The Mustangs are now 7-9 overall and an impressive 6-3 in conference play. Adams State drops to 4-13 on the season and just 1-6 in the RMAC.

Sophomore Stefan Mirabal (Albuquerque, NM, Sandia High School) finished with 23 points, leading the team. He also led in rebounds with eight. Senior Justin Williams (Phoenix, AZ, Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix College) followed with 20 points and eight assists. Williams went 7 for 8 from the free throw line.

TJ Riley (Tyler, TX, Chapel Hill High School, Lamar University) and JerJeron McIntosh (Albuquerque, NM, La Cueva High School) rounded out the double figures with 16 and 12 points respectively. They combined for 15 free throws and missed only one.

The Mustangs held just a three-point lead, 33-30, with 5:17 left in the first half, but a three by Chuck Kempf (Chicago, IL, Lakes High School, Trinidad Junior College) and Mirabal and then another jumper by Mirabal stretched the lead to 11 with 2:52 remaining on the clock. WNMU closed out the half with an 11-5 run and a 44-35 lead.

Second chance points and free throws allowed the Grizzlies to creep up on the Mustangs by the 12 minute mark of the second half. Adams State posted 14 second chance points and hit 13 of 17 free throws in the final 20 minutes. The score remained tight the remainder of the game.

With 3:08 remaining, the crowd saw the ninth tie of the game, 74-74. A three-point play by Williams put the Mustangs up by three. Williams then found Kempf in the paint with 2:21 left to go up five. Over the next 40 seconds, a free throw and a three by the Grizzlies kept the game within reach.

With time winding down and a “must foul” situation, the Grizzlies put McIntosh on the line with 22 seconds left. He converted on both of his shots to go up 81-78, but a Mustang foul on the other end with just five ticks left put the Grizzlies on the line. Adams State converted on the first but purposefully missed the second in hopes of a quick put back. It didn't happen. Riley grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He sank his two freebies to seal the victory.

The Mustangs shot 38.7 percent from the floor and 78.8 percent from the charity stripe. The Grizzlies were slightly better from the floor with 42.4 percent.

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