LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Cowboys turned an 11-point first half deficit into a lead in the second when they scored the first 14 points, but Adams State pushed the game back to double-digits and recorded a 98-84 win Friday Night (Feb. 6) in Las Vegas, N.M.
Allowing 60 points in the first half and trailing by 11, Highlands scored the first 14 points of the second half for its first lead of the game since 33-32 with 7:58 left in the first half. Sophomore
Ricky Norris took a defensive rebound coast-to-coast for the fastbreak layup to push the deficit back to single digits. Junior
Jonathon Mines hit a pair from the line and classmate
Kaylen Shane made a lay-up. Freshman
Joe Anaya grabbed an offensive board and canned a triple to bring the deficit to two. Anaya made a layup to tie the game and Mines nailed a triple to put Highlands up 63-60 with 14:48 left in the game. Adams State's Juwan Buchanan hit a layup to end the 5:38 field goal draught of the Grizzlies.
Junior
Kendrick Nichols led a contingency of four Cowboys who reached double-digit scoring, tallying 22 points. Mines added 20 points while juniors
Kaylen Shane and Norris had 13 apiece.
With Highlands down seven with four minutes left, the Grizzlies scored eight points in a minute to push the deficit back to double-digits in the game for good. Juwan Buchanna hit a layup and after a Highlands missed shot, Buchanan nailed a triple. Michael Middlebrooks, who had a game-high 13 rebounds, dunked the ball after an Adams State steal. Buchanan split from the line at Adams State led 90-75 with 3:07 left.
Buchanan had 33 points on 11-14 shooting from the field while Mikey Hope came off the bench for 29. Shakir Smith added 12.
The Cowboys return to action tomorrow at 7 p.m. against Fort Lewis in the John A. Wilson Complex.
