Reggie Thompson
The Paw Print
The Adams State Grizzlies celebrated Senior Night Saturday with an impressive 78-71 win over the top team in the RMAC, Colorado School of Mines. Coming into this game, the Orediggers were nationally ranked twentieth in the NCAA Division II, but, since their loss, they have dropped to twenty-third.
“We beat the best team in the league,” head coach Louis Wilson stated with satisfaction. “I’m proud of the way we executed at a high level.”
This win was especially memorable for the seniors, Seth Heinbaugh and Nate Ingretson who scored 10 points each. For them, this game was arguably the best memory of their Adams State careers, even considering that Heinbaugh has been to the NCAA Division II tournament and reached 1,000 career points while wearing a Grizzlies’ uniform.
To explain his feeling, Heinbaugh noted, “We get to go out on top.”
“It’s awesome,” said Ingbretson with a mixture excitement and relief. “There’s no way to explain having this win with a season like this.”
The Grizzlies pulled off the upset with a great effort from junior guard Deray Wilson, who reached a career-high 30 points coming off the bench, including a clutch 3-point shot that put the Grizzlies up by 4 points with 22 seconds remaining in the game. Wilson was a remarkable 11-15 from the floor, including six 3-pointers.
Friday, the Grizzlies held off Colorado Christian University with an 85-81 win. Center Jack Osborn gave an unusually offensive performance. Osborn averages 8.5 points per game this season, but produced 19 in the game, being 7-9 from the floor and 5-8 from the free throw line.
When asked about his play, the 6’10” sophomore answered, “I just do what I’m needed to do, whether it be put up points or stay back and defend; whatever I can do to be there for the team.”
Junior forward Marqus Richards, last week’s Defensive Player of the Week, played another proficient game, leading the Grizzlies with 22 points (including a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line), 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
For the second straight week, the Defensive Player of the Week is an Adams State Grizzly. On February 22, Heinbaugh won the honor for his 18 total rebounds, 4 total steals, and 1 block in the weekend’s games.
This is his second time receiving the honor this season, the previous being November 22. He is one of the three Grizzlies to win it this year, joining Shayar Lee and Richards.
The Grizzlies have now won four straight games and earned an overall record of 18-6, which has matched the best men’s basketball record since Adams State joined NCAA Division II in the 1992-93 season.
They are currently tied with Fort Lewis for fourth place in the RMAC men’s basketball standings, both with 14-6 conference records. This team is in control of its own destiny.
There are two games remaining in the regular season against Mesa State on February 25 and Western State on February 26. If the Grizzlies win out, they could potentially secure fourth place and host a quarterfinal game in the RMAC Shootout tournament.
What’s Been Said…