ALAMOSA – The Adams State University men’s basketball team got off to an early lead when it hosted Fort Lewis Thursday at Plachy Hall gym. However, the Skyhawks got their offense late in the first quarter and never looked back as they defeated the Grizzlies 88-71.

Cameron Kimble got the Grizzlies off to a good start by splitting a pair at the free throw line. John Harge then drained a 3-point basket, and Ta’Veus Randle also made one of two from the line and ASU led 5-0.

The Skyhawks got a layup from Tru Allen and 3-pointers from Chuol Deng and A.J. Riggs to take an 8-5 lead. Wyatt Helming made two free tosses, but Deng knocked down a jumper for a 10-7 Fort Lewis lead.

Helming made a three and Jude Tapia made a jumper to put the Grizzlies back into the lead with 13:11 left in the first half. Allen tied the score, but Alex Hurr scored in the paint to again give the Grizzlies a 14-12 edge.

That would be ASU’s final lead of the night. Deng made two treys, and Biko Johnson scored a layup and the Skyhawks led 20-14.

Jaylen Alexander split at the line, and Harrison Frank made two free throws. Kimble then drained a 3-pointer to reduce the deficit to 23-20.

Cassius Carmichael scored a layup, and Randle scored one for the Grizzlies. Johnson made a layup, followed by threes by Riggs and Stewart Erhart. Riggs scored again to extend the Fort Lewis lead to 35-23.

Randle made a trey to end the run and Alexander scored a layup and added a free throw to bring the Grizzlies within 36-29. After a layup by Keither Florence, Alexander dunked the ball, and Randle buried another 3-pointer to close the lead to 38-34.

After a Luke Hutto free throw, Alexander made a three and ASU Trailed 39-37 with 1:51 left in the first half.

Johnson drained a 3-pointer, but Alexander answered on the other end. Allen drove for a layup to give Fort Lewis a 44-40 lead at halftime.

Allen opened the second half with a layup and a free throw, and Erhart made a 3-pointer for a 50-40 lead. Alexander made two free throws, but so did Erhart, followed by a Johnson three and the lead grew to 55-42.

Helming scored for the Grizzlies, but so did Carmichael and Deng. Alexander scored back-to-back layups and Helming also scored to cut the deficit to 59-50.

Johnson made two free throws, and Carmichael and Deng both drove for layups for a 65-50 Skyhawks lead.

Harge scored a layup and Kimble two free throws. But Florence scored four points for a 69-54 lead.

Harge made two free tosses, but Fort Lewis went on an 8-1 run to take its largest lead of the game at 77-57.

Tapia made a pair from the charity stripe and Alexander got his second dunk of the game. Randle scored five points and Helming one to cut the lead to 79-67.

Fort Lewis finished the game with a 9-4 run.

Alexander led the Grizzlies with 22 points, followed by Randle with 14 and Helming with 12.

Fort Lewis had five players score in double figures. Johnson and Deng led the way with 15 points each, followed by Allen with 14, Riggs with 13 and Erhart with 11.

Adams State (4-6, 0-3 RMAC) will travel to New Mexico Highlands Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m. It will have one game left in the 2024 calendar year as it will host Northwest Indian (Wash.) on Friday at 3 p.m.

Fort Lewis 88, Adams State 71

Fort Lewis – Carmichael 4-6 0-0 8, Florence 2-4 2-2 6, Allen 5-12 4-5 14, Johnson 5-13 3-5 15, Erhart 3-8 2-2 11, Deng 6-10 0-0 15, Riggs 5-8 0-0 13, Hutto 1-1 1-2 3, Penney 1-1 0-0 3, Gibson 0-2 0-0 0. Total 32-65 12-16 88.

3-point goals – Carmichael 0-1, Allen 0-2, Johnson 2-5, Erhart 3-7, Deng 3-7, Riggs 3-6, Penney 1-1, Gibson 0-1. Total 12-30.

Adams State – Harge 2-5 2-2 7, Alexander 7-7 6-7 22, Randle 4-7 3-4 14, Tapia 1-4 2-2 4, Kimble 1-3 4-9 7, Hurr 1-3 0-0 2, Helming 4-6 3-4 12, Williams 0-8 1-2 1, Frank 0-2 2-2 2, Guidry 0-0 0-0 0. Total 20-45 23-32 71.

3-point goals – Harge 1-3, Alexander 2-2, Randle 3-6, Tapia 0-2, Kimble 1-2, Hurr 0-1, Helming 0-2, Williams 0-3, Frank 0-2. Total 8-23.

Halftime score – Fort Lewis 44, Adams State 40. Rebounds – Fort Lewis 34 (Deng 8), Adams State 25 (Randle 7). Assists – Fort Lewis 17 (Johnson 6), Adams State 12 (Tapia 3), Steals – Fort Lewis 13 (Johnson 3), Adams State 2 (Randle, Tapia 1), Fouls – Fort Lewis 26, Adams State 19. Fouled out – Carmichael, Deng. Turnovers – Fort Lewis 14, Adams State 20.