ALAMOSA, Colo. --- The Western Colorado men's basketball team won its fourth game in a row as a strong defensive effort - led by a near-record night on the glass by Monroe Porter - and 13 3-pointers helped the Mountaineers past Adams State 83-58 on Friday night at Plachy Hall.

Porter grabbed 20 rebounds against the Grizzlies - and for the second time this season came up one rebound short of the WCU record of 21 set by Steve Gottlieb in 1966-67. Porter - a 6-foot-3 guard - and Gottlieb are the only players in Western Colorado men's basketball history to grab 20 or more rebounds in game with each doing it twice.

Porter also had 10 points and six assists to go along with his 20-rebound effort Friday night.

As for the game, the Mountaineers (12-14 overall, 9-11 RMAC) pounced on Adams State (7-19, 5-15) right away. After a quick bucket by the Grizzlies to start the game, WCU went on an 11-0 run capped by a Matthew Ragsdale basket with 16:47 remaining in the first half to make it 11-2.

The Mountaineers led 15-10 when they went on a 12-0 run to build the lead to 17 points - which eventually was as large as 20 points in the first half at 38-18 before taking a 40-24 advantage into the break. 

After a 3-pointer by Connor Shaw on the opening possession of the second half for the Mountaineers made it a 19-point lead - WCU led by no less than 17 points the rest of the way as it picked up its fourth consecutive win and fifth in its last six games.

Will Willis led the Mountaineers with 15 points off the bench - going 3-for-4 from 3-point range. Ragsdale finished with 14 points and six rebounds and Cameron McCurry had 10 points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes of play.

WCU dominated the glass, outrebounding Adams State 58-33.

The Mountaineers are two games out with two games to go of the final spot for the RMAC Tournament as New Mexico Highlands and Westminster are both 11-9. WCU needs NMHU or Westminster to drop their final two games, Regis (which is 10-10 and a game back) to drop at least one of its last two and the Mountaineers need to win their final two to force a tie. The Mountaineers own the head-to-head advantage on the Cowboys, swept both games against Regis and they split the season series with the Griffins.

WCU takes on Fort Lewis 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Durango.