ALAMOSA, Colo.  Western Colorado battled all night - trailing by nearly double digits at multiple times during the ball game - and had a shot at winning the game at the buzzer. However, the ball just didn't bounce their way as they narrowly lost 71-73 to Adams State University.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Adams State def. Western Colorado 73-71
Records: Western Colorado 2-3, Adams State 3-5.
Location: Plachy Hall; Alamosa, Colo.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was an action packed and exciting first half of basketball, as there were six lead changes and the biggest lead was seven-points – 32-25 with 4:57 left in the first, in favor of Adams State. However, that lead didn't last long, thanks to a 11-3 run which started with 4:29 on the clock.
• Robel Desta hit three two-points jumpers during the run and Kade Juelfs, Avery Rembao and Kevin Jimenez knocked down a total of five free throws – Juelfs and Rembao making two and Jimenez making one.
• Unfortunately, the Grizzlies were able to make one final basket before the first half ended, resulting in them holding a 39-36 lead at halftime. Desta was on fire in the first half, scoring 14-points (5-of-10).
• Coming out of halftime, the Mountaineers trimmed the lead down to one-point off a Rembao shot in the paint (18:25 mark). But, Adams State offense got rolling after that increasing their lead to 10-points in the matter of three-minutes and 20-seconds. Western didn't give up a continued to fight, cutting the lead to five-points several times.
• Down by seven-points (64-71) with 2:41 left to go in the second half, Desta hit a three-pointer cutting the Grizzlies lead down to four-points. Then Daric Conkright stole the ball (2:08 mark) from a Grizzlies player and took it all the way for the fast break layup, cutting Adams State lead to two-points.
• Desta would tie the game at 71-points apiece with 1:18 left to play, giving the Mountaineers a shot at winning the game, after trailing the entire second half. The Grizzlies would draw a foul 10 seconds later and knocked down both free throws, giving them a two-point lead.
• Regrettably, those two free throws would be enough to seal the deal for Adams State, as Western wasn't able to knock down the two attempts they had at tying / winning the game.

COURT NOTES

• Desta recorded his third straight 20 plus point game, scoring 25-points (7-of-17) and grabbed a team high 12 rebounds. Rembao and Jimenez also pitched in with 12 and 11-points of their own.
• Gino Corridori was the second highest rebounder with nine rebounds.
• As a whole, the Mountaineers shot 33.3 percent (21-of-63) from the field, 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from three and 77.4 percent (24-of-31) from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
Western will wrap up their road trip tomorrow (Dec. 3) taking on Fort Lewis at 7 p.m.