ALAMOSA, Colo. (February 12, 2016) – Adams State University shot 18 more free throws and made 20 more from the charity stripe to guide it to a 85-78 victory versus the visiting Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team Friday in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest.
The ThunderWolves (14-10, 10-8 RMAC) outshot Adams State (12-11, 11-7 RMAC) from the field and from long range, as CSU-Pueblo posted a 47.8 percentage and held the Grizzlies to 39.7 percent from the field. The Pack hit nine 3-pointers and held ASU to six, but the difference was at the line.
The home team went 25-of-30 (83.3%) from the free-throw line (19-for-22, 86.4% in the second half), while the Pack only attempted 12 from the charity stripe, as they went 5-of-12 (41.7%).
CSU-Pueblo also turned the ball over 17 times, which allowed 27 ASU points.
Senior Odessa Lear (F, Parkhill, Colo.) guided the ThunderWolves with 21 points on 8-of-13 (61.5%) shooting from the field (4-of-6, 66.7% from 3) and added eight rebounds.
Three others scored in double figures, including 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks from junior center Nelson Kahler (Noosa Heads, Australia). Kahler owns 54 blocks this season to tie for fourth on the Pack's all-time single-season list.
The ThunderWolves had double-digit leads in both halves, but failed to close the door on the Grizzlies. In the first, the Pack owned a 26-14 lead with 10:05 left and lead by just one at the break, 37-36.
In the second, the lead was again 12 at 50-38, but the Grizzlies chipped away and tied the game 55-55 thanks to a 17-5 run with 13:38 remaining.
The ThunderWolves led 69-68 following a Kahler layup with 8:13 showing on the game clock, but a lapse in scoring by the Pack during the next three minutes allowed ASU to own a 76-71 lead. CSU-Pueblo could only muster seven points in the final five minutes in the 85-78 setback.
Saturday brings a road contest against No. 10 Fort Lewis College (20-3, 15-3 RMAC), who have won eight straight and are a perfect 12-0 at home this season. The contest is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
