GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University Mavericks clamped down defensively in the second half, dominating the visiting Adams State University Grizzlies 45-27 over the final 20 minutes to claim an 89-74 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's basketball victory on Saturday afternoon here in Brownson Arena.
The Mavericks matched a school-record by recording ten blocked shots and had five players finish in double-figures offensively as they claimed their second conference win in less than 48 hours while improving to 8-6 overall and to 2-4 in the loop.
CMU also dominated the second half, 49-32, in Thursday's similar 89-77 win over New Mexico Highlands University.
ASU, which have lost 12 straight games in the rivalry since 2018, fell to 6-8 overall and to 1-5 in the RMAC.
The Grizzlies shot 51.5 percent (17-33) from the field and made nine 3-pointers in the opening half and led 47-44.
However, the Mavs came out of the break on a 10-1 run to seize control of the game for good.
The Mavs then used another 15-2 run over 3:45 to build a 74-57 lead with 6:55 left before cruising to the win, keyed by their defense which held ASU to just 25.7 percent (9-35) shooting and a single 3-pointer in the second half, which came on the final play of the game with the game well in hand.
"The guys became more comfortable at switching and in the second half, (Adams) wore down," CMU Head Coach
Mike Dunlap said.
"Our fitness level becomes our threshold calling card and I think we're getting to peoples' legs as witnessed by the fact that they had a poor night shooting."
Offensively,
Mason Honeyman led the Mavericks with a season-high 19 point, making five buckets and all nine of his free throw attempts.
Ty Allred also recorded his first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
Yaak Yaak was just one board away from a double-double of his own, matching his season-high with nine. He also scored 13 points and blocked four shots after coming off the bench.
"The coaches have done a good job helping me anticipate penetration from the other team and taught me the best way to rotate early. When I see it, I go and they (the coaches) have full confidence in me to go up and block the shot," the 6-foot-11 Australian said.
Jaylen Pitman also came off the bench scoring 15 points on 5-for-5 floor shooting while
Harvey White added 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
The Mavericks finished with a 48-33 rebounding advantage and finished the game shooting 48.4 percent (31-64), more than 10 points better than the Grizzlies, who finished the afternoon at 38.2 percent (26-68).
The Grizzlies got out to a quick start and led 21-9 as they were able to launch and make quick shots," which Dunlap noted would be a key to the game this week.
However, the Mavs then went on a 10-0 run of their own to get back in the game but could not pull even with the visitors until the 1:31 mark on a Yaak layup.
However, the Grizzlies' Jerrick Guidry hit a triple on the ensuing possession helping the Grizzlies take the slight 3-point lead into the intermission.
In the second half, four different Mavericks scored in the early 10-1 spurt.
The Mavs would later lead 59-55 with 10:40 to go before White took over with eight straight points, including a top of the arc transition triple and another 3-pointer after a
Christopher Speller offensive rebound and kick-out.
Leading 64-55 at that point, the Mavs continued to roll and scored seven of the next nine points to built their 17-point advantage, which was equal to their largest of the afternoon.
ASU did manage to have four players in double figures as Luke Williams and Ta'Veus Randle both finishes with 14 points. However, Jude Tapia, one of the conference's top scorers was held to just nine points, well below his new scoring average of 16.1, all of which came from beyond the arc.
Meanwhile, the Mavs, who made six 3-pointers, controlled the inside game, outscoring the Grizzlies 44-30 in the paint while making 21 of 28 free throws in a physical game that saw 44 total foul calls as four different players, including three Grizzlies fouled out.
The Mavericks will look to continue their momentum on Tuesday when they travel to Gunnison to face rival Western Colorado University (5-8, 3-3 RMAC) at 7:30 p.m. The Mountaineers claimed their first win of 2025 on Saturday, defeating New Mexico Highlands 89-75 on Saturday.
