SMWC held a fourth straight opponent to 55 points or less and won for the 10^th time in 11 games against NAIA opponents Saturday, defeating Rio Grande for the first time in school history by a score of 62-52.
The Pomeroys held the Red Storm to 11 of 34 shooting (32.3 percent) in the second half and held Rio Grande scoreless for over seven minutes during one stretch to overcome a 29-26 halftime deficit.
The first half included 13 lead changes. SMWC regained the lead quickly in the second half.
Cobie Barnes, who finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, converted two of the team's first three field goals to start the half. A Greg Jenkins layup then put the Pomeroys ahead 34-31 at the 16:24 mark of the half.
The Pomeroys never relinquished the lead from that point on.
Chaz Birchfield, who had 14 points, converted in the lane and Jenkins hit two free throws to stretch the lead to 38-33.
The Pomeroys stretched their lead to 46-37 by holding Rio Grande without a point for 7 minutes, 9 seconds.
Greg Johnson had four of his 10 points during that stretch.
Rio Grande rallied, however, pulling within 52-50 with 2:01 left. Birchfield set up Tupuola for a dunk and the freshman big man's first points of the game with 1:39 left.
After a Johnson steal and a Barnes miss, Tupuola pulled in an offensive rebound and slammed home another dunk with 41 seconds to go.
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• The Pomeroys had their second-best shot-blocking game of the season with six. Birchfield and Barnes had two apiece, while Jenkins and Tarik Dixon added one each.
• In RSC only games, Barnes ranks fifth in the league in rebounding (9.2 rpg) and seventh in scoring (22.4 ppg).
• Even with eight rebounds Saturday, Tupuola (14.8 rpg) leads the league in rebounding.
• The Pomeroys reached double-digit steals for the sixth time this season. Johnson led the way with three, followed by two apiece from Barnes, Birchfield and Jenkins.
• SMWC made 20 of 24 at the free-throw line. The Pomeroys lead the RSC in overall games (73 percent) and in RSC games (79 percent).