ALAMOSA – The Adams State University men’s basketball team had three players score in double figures but it wasn’t enough as the Grizzlies lost to Westminster (Utah) College 76-67 Friday at Plachy Hall gym.

Adams State took the early lead on a layup by Isaiah Sampson and a 3-point basket by Kolby Walker. Trey Farrer’s dunk put the Griffins on the board, but Sampson and Walker both made threes to extend the ASU lead to 11-4. After Taylor Miller made two free throws for Westminster, Walker drained another trey to give the Grizzlies their largest lead at 14-4.

Westminster then scored 13 straight points to go in front at 17-14.Chris Aibuedefe’s three tied the score, and the teams traded baskets until the Griffins went on a 12-4 run to increase their lead to 35-25.

Walker made four out of five free throws to bring the Grizzlies within 35-29. After a Donoval Avila layup, Walker made two more free throws, and Aibuedefe hit a jumper to reduce the deficit to 37-33.

Westminster outscored Adams State 6-2 in the final 2:08 of the first half to take a 43-35 lead into halftime.

ASU’s Maison Adeleye began the second half with two free throws, but Westminster responded by scoring six straight points for a 49-37 advantage. Sampson then made back to-back threes to bring the Grizzlies within 49-43, but the Griffins went on a 6-2 run to extend their lead to 55-45.

Walker hit another 3-pointer and Sterling Benjamin made two free throws to cut the deficit to 55-50. The Grizzlies narrowed the gap to 58-54 with 12:!6 left in the game, but the Griffins pushed their advantage to 63-54.

Walker made two more free throws, and Adeleye scored in the paint to close the margin to 63-58.

That would be as close as ASU would come as Westminster outscored the Grizzlies 13-9 in the final minutes of the game.

Walker led Adams State in scoring with 22 points, followed by Sampson with 15, and Adeleye with 10.

Farrer was Westminster’s top scorer with 21 points, followed by Miller with 20, and Avila with 14.

Adams State (3-15, 1-11 RMAC) will play at Metropolitan State University of Denver next Friday and at the Colorado School of Mines next Saturday.

Westminster 76, Adams State 67

Westminster – Middleton 2-2 1-2 5, Farrer 8-13 5-6 21, Miller 8-13 2-4 20, Avila 5-8 4-9 14, Kadoguchi 1-1 0-0 2, Sterling 3-6 0-0 8, Johnson 0-3 2-5 2, Heath 1-1 0-0 2, Olivera 1-1 0-0 2. Total 29-48 14-26 76.

3-point goals – Farrer 0-1, Miller 2-3, Sterling 2-3, Johnson 0-2. Total 4-9.

Adams State – Sampson 6-12 0-0 15, Aibuedefe 3-5 0-0 7, Adeleye 3-10 4-5 10, Walker 5-15 8-9 22, Benjamin 2-9 5-6 9, Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Mitchell 1-1 0-0 2, Huston 0-0 0-0 0, Holman 1-3 0-3 2, Canty 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Hurr 0-0 0-0 0, Reed 0-1 0-0 0. Total 21-56 17-23 67.

3-point goals – Sampson 3-5, Aibuedefe 1-2, Adeleye 0-3, Walker 4-11, Benjamin 0-1, Holman 0-1, Reed 0-1. Total 21-56.

Halftime score: Westminster 43, Adams State 35. Rebounds – Westminster 29 (Avila 7), Adams State (34 (Benjamin 7). Assists – Westminster 16 (Johnson 4), Adams State 11 (Sampson 4). Fouls – Westminster 20, Adams State 25. Fouled out – Johnson; Walker.