ALAMOSA – The Adams State University men’s basketball team stopped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday with a 97-88 win over Northern New Mexico College at the Plachy Hall gym.

Jaylen Alexander gave the Grizzlies the early lead with a dunk, and then John Harge drove for a layup and then made two free throws for a 6-0 lead.

The Eagles got on the board on a 3-point basket by Adam Montoya. Gabriel Gutierrez and Nigel Quaynor both scored to give Northern New Mexico a 7-6 lead.

Ta’Veus Randle put ASU back into the lead with two free tosses, and then Alex Hurr scored a layup for a 10-7 Grizzlies lead.

The teams exchanged baskets before Wyatt Helming and Harrison Frank both made layups to extend the ASU lead to 16-11. Jordan Duda’s three cut the lead to 16-14, and after another Hurr basket, the Eagles took a 19-18 lead on Joziah Ramos’ trey.

Harge put the Grizzlies back in front with a dunk, followed by Helming’s two free throws and a jumper by Alexander to give ASU a 24-19 advantage.

Jesus Mendoza hit a three for NNMC, but Harge made two free throws, and Alexander scored in the paint and added a free throw for a 29-22 Grizzlies lead.

Mendoza hit another 3-pointer, but Luke Williams answered with a trey for the Grizzlies.

Northern New Mexico cut the lead to 34-29 before Randle hit a trey. But the Eagles continued their momentum as they closed to within 37-35.

Jude Tapia scored a layup and added a free throw for a 40-35 lead. After a Mokeye Grant jumper, Harge drove for a layup, and Tapia made two more free throws to extend the lead to 44-37.

Leo Gerardo made a jumper and Mendoza made another trey to cut the lead to 44-42. But Helming scored just before the half expired to give Adams State a 46-42 lead at halftime.

Harge opened the second half with a layup, and Tapia buried a trey. Harge then split at the free throw line to give the Grizzlies their first double-digit lead at 52-42.

Gerardo’s three cut the lead to 52-45. After Randle split at the line, the Eagles scored back-to-back layups by Gutierrez and Malek Malual to reduce the deficit to 53-49.

Harge ended the run with a three and he later added a layup. Randle also drained a trey for a 61-49 advantage.

The Eagles then cut the lead to 61-54 before Helming drove for a dunk and added a layup. Hurr then made a 3-pointer for a 67-54 lead.

Ramos’ three cut the margin to 67-57, but Helming got a layup and then made a free throw to push the lead to 70-57.

The teams traded baskets before Northern New Mexico went on a 9-4 run to close to within 78-72.

The ASU lead stood at 82-76 before Alexander split at the line and Tapia made a three.

The Eagles again cut the lead to six at 86-80, but Williams made back-to-back layups for a 90-80 advantage.

Northern New Mexico scored six straight points to close within 90-86. But Alexander’s dunk sparked a 7-2 run to close out the game.

Adams State had seven players score in double figures. Harge led the way with 18 points, followed by Williams with 14, Helming with 13, Alexander and Randle both with 12, and Tapia and Hurr both with 11.

Harge also led in rebounding with five. Williams led in assists with six, and both Harge and Williams led in steals with three apiece.

Northern New Mexico had five players score in double figures. Leading the Eagles was Gutierrez with 16, followed by Ramos with 15, Mendoza with 13, Malual with 12 and Quaynor with 10.

Quaynor and Malual both had nine rebounds.

Adams State (4-3) will open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play on Dec. 5 as it host the Colorado School of Mines.

Adams State 97, Northern New Mexico 88

Northern New Mexico – Montoya 1-1 0-0 3, Gutierrez 7-15 1-1 16, Quaynor 4-8 2-3 10, Gerardo 2-3 0-0 5, Naam 0-2 1-2 1, Majuac 2-3 0-0 4, Leak 0-0 0-0 0, Medina 1-6 0-0 2, R. Mendoza 0-1 0-0 0, Ramos 6-11 0-0 15, Grant 1-1 2-2 4, Malual 4-8 4-4 12, Duda 1-1 0-0 3, J. Mendoza 4-6 2-2 13, Reyes-Muniz 0-1 0-0 0. Total 33-67 12-14 88.

3-point goals – Montyoa 1-1, Gutierrez 1-2, Gerardo 1-2, Medina 0-4, Ramos 3-7, Duda 1-1, J. Mendoza 3-5. Total 10-22.

Adams State – Harge 6-7 5-6 18, Alexander 5-7 2-4 12, Randle 2-9 6-8 12, Tapia 3-8 3-3 11, Kimble 2-5 0-0 4, Helming 4-6 5-6 13, Williams 5-8 3-6 14, Hurr 4-6 2-2 11, Frank 1-2 0-0 2. Total 32-58 26-35 97.

3-point goals – Harge 1-2, Randle 2-3, Tapia 2-5, Kimble 0-1, Helming 0-1, Williams 1-2, Hurr 1-3, Frank 0-1. Total 7-18.

Halftime score – Adams State 46, Northern New Mexico 42. Rebounds – Northern New Mexico 35 (Quaynor, Malual 9), Adams State 27 (Harge 5). Assists – Northern New Mexico 10 (Ramos 3), Adams State 16 (Williams 6). Steals – Northern New Mexico 11 (J. Mendoza 3), Adams State 13 (Harge, Williams 3). Personal fouls – Northern New Mexico 25, Adams State 14. Technical fouls – Tapia. Turnovers – Northern New Mexico 24, Adams State 18.