Box Score ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University men's basketball team got to within four late in the second half, but Adams State College pulled away thanks to a 22-8 run on their way to a 81-63 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday night inside Plachy Hall.


WNMU (8-13, 8-9 RMAC) looked to be in prime position to come-from-behind and hand ASC (16-4, 12-4 RMAC) their first home loss near the midway point of the second half. Trailing by nine with eight minutes to play, Chris Mason (Phoenix, AZ/St. Mary's High School) got loose for a three-pointer, then TJ Riley (Tyler, TX/Chapel Hill High School) tallied a layup to quickly trim the deficit to four, 59-55, at the 7:22 mark.


The Grizzlies responded, tallying a layup off a steal and then two free throws followed to push their lead back to eight.


It would remain at eight with nearly five minutes to play when ASC put the game out of reach with an 8-0 run that made their lead 16 with two minutes to play.


Early on, ASC controlled the pace of the game, as after the Mustangs tied the game at six, ASC tallied the next five points for an 11-6 lead.


The Grizzlies then looked to be poised to run away with the game, running the lead as high as 14 in the first half, but WNMU fought back before the half.


Trailing 28-14 with 3:20 to play, Chad Carter (Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School) delivered a jumper, which later he added a layup and then a layup from Lucio Luttrell (Las Cruces, NM/Las Cruces High School) had WNMU within nine.


Juan Suarez (Nogales, AZ/Nogales High School) hit a free throw and then hit a three-pointer off an offensive rebound to have WNMU within five with 21 seconds to go before halftime. ASC hit a layup at the buzzer to take a 31-24 lead into halftime.


WNMU kept the pressure going early in the second half, tying the score at 35 after Riley hit two from the line and then took a three-point lead on a trey by Luttrell for a 38-35 lead at the 15:24 mark.


The Grizzlies countered to push the lead back to 10 at the 11:27 mark and slowly the Mustangs would work their way back, whittling the lead down to four on a layup by Riley.


ASC's Jack Osborn led all-scorers with 18 points.


WNMU was led by 17 from Luttrell, 16 from Riley and 13 from Carter.


WNMU will remain on the road next week as they will play at Western State College in Gunnison on Friday night with tipoff set for 8 p.m.