Moniak-led Grizzlies claim clutch win over CCU, 68-64

Senior Roman Moniak matched a career-high with 27 points on Friday. The senior missed just two shots on the night.

Box Score

LAKEWOOD, Colo.— Senior Roman Moniak (Sacramento, Calif.) was nearly perfect from the floor, matching a career-high with 27 points to lead the Grizzlies to a clutch 68-64 road win over Colorado Christian University Friday evening in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action. Moniak went 9-for-11 from the floor, including 1-for-1 from long range, and was perfect in eight attempts from the free throw line, en-route to his second straight 27-point effort.

The Grizzlies are now 3-7 on the year and 2-1 in RMAC action. CCU fell to 2-6 overall and 0-3 in the league.

ASC held as much as a 15 point lead over the Cougars before CCU chipped its way back into the contest, closing to within one point on a Brian Stamer jumper at the 3:52 mark of the second half. The Grizzlies, however, would hold the Cougars scoreless over the final minutes of the game to claim the victory.

CCU, down 67-64, held a glimmer of hope after Rajshad Anderson (Lewisville, Texas) misfired on two free throws to give the Cougars the ball back with nine seconds remaining in the game. However, junior point guard Larry Charles, Jr. (Tucson, Ariz.) came up with a clutch steal with three seconds remaining, and converted on one of his two free throws to put the game out of reach.

The Grizzlies held the advantage in nearly every statistical category, including a decisive 13-2 advantage in second chance points as ASC claimed 14 offensive rebounds. ASC had a balanced rebounding attack, led by Moniak, who had six. Four of those were offensive boards for the senior forward.

The Grizzlies also had a balanced scoring effort as four other players put up six or more points to compliment Moniak’s mark. ASC also benefited from CCU’s poor free throw shooting night, as the Cougars 28 times, but converted on just half of those.

CCU was led by Stamer, who led a trio of Cougars in double figures with 18 points. The senior also grabbed 16 rebounds. Jordan Long and Justin Neuhaus added 14 and 10 points, respectively.

The win is the second straight for the Grizzlies. They will take that streak into Metro State College on Saturday night. The Roadrunners are ranked 21st in the nation. Tip-off for that RMAC contest is set for 7 p.m. and can be heard live on KSPK-FM, 103.5 in Alamosa or online at www.kspk.com.