RMAC Men's Basketball Week 6 Release

Grizzlies off to best start in Division II era

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Click here to view the sixth Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) men’s basketball release of the 2011-12 season. Monday’s release includes league standings, RMAC/Baden Players of the Week, recent results, upcoming match-ups, news & notes from around the league and a look at the polls.

After handling Fort Lewis its first conference loss of the season and improving their own record to 3-0 in the RMAC and 6-0 overall, the Grizzlies are now just one of three league teams left without a loss this season, alongside 2nd-ranked Metro State (9-0, 4-0 RMAC) and 7th-ranked Colorado Mines (7-0, 3-0 RMAC).

Adams State earned a 67-62 victory over the Skyhawks on Saturday night at Plachy Hall, giving second year head coach Louis Wilson his first win over Fort Lewis. He has now coached the Grizzlies’ to at least one victory over every team in the RMAC.

Senior Marqus Richards (Los Angeles, Calif.) bucketed a game-high 17 points, while senior Jamiko Verner (Denver, Colo.) was impressive in scoring 10 points and dishing out nine assists, matching his career high. Adams State earned its 5-point margin in the first half thanks to a 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) effort from the free throw line, and hung onto that lead throughout the final 20 minutes.

Additionally, the Grizzlies are now off to their best overall start in the program’s Division II-era (1992-93/present) history with the sixth straight win to open the season, and at 3-0 in RMAC play ASC is off to its best league start since winning its first four during the 1995-96 season.

This weekend the Grizzlies will head out on their first RMAC road trip of the season to square off against Western State and Colorado Mesa on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

The Mountaineers are 3-5 this season with a 1-3 RMAC mark, and has lost their last two outings. Western State has been one of the league’s top rebounding teams this season, pulling down 37.6 boards per game, but rank 13th in scoring (63.4 points) and 12th in field goal percentage, connecting on just 39.4 percent of their shots from the field.

Colorado Mesa suffered its first conference setback of the season on Saturday at the hands of New Mexico Highlands, and now sits at 5-3 overall with a 3-1 RMAC record. The Mavericks rank third in the RMAC in scoring defense, allowing just 62.5 points per contest, while holding opponents to a league best 36.7 percent from the field.

Adams State split with both squads last season, and went to overtime against both squads on the final weekend of the regular season last year, topping the Mavs 68-65 before dropping a 98-96 game against Western State.

Friday’s 8 p.m. tip-off will follow a 6 p.m. women’s contest in Gunnison, Colo., while Saturday’s women’s-men’s doubleheader will be at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in Grand Junction.

Fans unable to be with the Grizzlies on the road can keep up on the action by checking out live stats on both Friday and Saturday, by listening live at www.kspk.com (104.1 FM in Alamosa), or by watching through subscription-based America One.