SILVER CITY, N.M. – Just over five minutes into the game, the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team had the lead already at nine and were shooting the lights out. Adams State University worked their way back in with their own hot shooting to overtake the Mustangs and pull out the 84-66 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Friday night.

WNMU (1-24, 1-19 RMAC) shot well over 50 percent throughout most of the first half before finally settling for a 15-37 (41) effort through the first 20 minutes. ASU (13-12, 12-8 RMAC) wasn't about to let up as they got back into the game with a 13-29 (45) shooting effort in the opening half and then did even better with a 14-25 (56) clip in the second half. WNMU couldn't find the stroke in the second half making just 8-29 (28).

The Mustangs jumped out ready with the Grizzlies holding the 3-2 lead, freshman Willie McCray (Clovis, NM/Clovis/Westwind Prep Academy ) took over scoring  seven of the next nine points, with junior Steven Loucks (Yuma, AZ/Cibola) also connecting on a pair from the line to give WNMU the 11-3 lead off the 9-0 run.

Freshman Carter Aby (San Tan Valley, AZ/Combs) and junior Emery Range (Grand Rapids, MI/Willow Canyon) kept the lead back at nine after the Grizzlies had gotten back to within four with 14:49 to go before the break.

ASU slowly came back to take a small lead and after the teams exchanged leads, ASU took a 40-39 lead into the locker rooms after DJ Morgan split a pair at the line.

Although the Grizzlies controlled play for a majority of the second half, the Mustangs did hold the lead a few minutes in. Junior Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) sunk a three-pointer and after Loucks hit a jumper, Aby pushed the Mustangs back in front by two at 46-44.

ASU responded with a 9-0 run and never looked back. McCray and senior Adam Kesler (Silver City, NM/Silver) tried to get the Mustangs back into it with back-to-back threes, just to watch a 12-0 spurt by the Grizzlies seal the deal.

Despite the strong shooting start, WNMU ended up 23-66 (35) from the floor, including a 7-27 (26) clip from three and 13-16 (81) at the foul line. ASU settled in at 50 percent making 27-54, 8-15 (53) from three and 22-29 (76) at the charity stripe.

Four players again scored in double-figures for the Mustangs led by 12 each from Range and McCray. Loucks and Tanter added 10 apiece. Aby grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, while Kesler dished out four assists.

Shakir Smith and Kendyl Grover led the Grizzlies in scoring with 15 apiece as they also had four players in double-figures. Grover added a double-double with 10 rebounds, while the Grizzlies posted eight blocks as a team led by four from EJ Hubbard II.

WNMU will close the weekend tomorrow (Saturday) night at home against No. 9/7 Fort Lewis College beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Skyhawks posted the 96-77 victory over New Mexico Highlands earlier tonight.