CSU-Pueblo 79, Johnson & Wales 65
DENVER, Colo. - CSU-Pueblo used a second-half surge and
defensive supremacy to claim a comfortable 14-point win over
Johnson & Wales in Denver Tuesday, forcing 29 turnovers in the
79-65 victory.
The win puts the Pack at 6-1, its best start since 2004, going
into its final match of the calendar year Friday at UC-Colorado
Springs.
The Pack started slow, victimized by fouls, allowing a Wildcat
squad which should have been blow out by the ThunderWolves in the
first half to stay in the game. Johnson & Wales overcame
14 first half turnovers and a shooting percentage of .292 and
to trail 36-30 at half, largely due to the 13-for-14 free throw
shooting the Wildcats had in the first half.
The Pack managed to give the defense the lead in the second
half, forcing 15 more Wildcat turnovers and shooting 46 percent
from the field to keep Johnson & Wales from threatening a
comeback. CSU-Pueblo had five players score in double
figures, and three put up 15 points each: Donell Wells (Jr.,
Aurora, Colo.), Chris Busch (Sr.,
Oakland, Calif.) and Dwayne Wright (Sr.,
Seattle, Wash.). For Wells, it was his career-high
in his seventh game as a ThunderWolf, while Wright's 15 points came
in just his second game of the season.
Defensively, the Pack had a strong day from Roman Van Allen
(Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.), who had four steals, and
Kris
Lawrie (Jr., Gardena, Calif.), who flirted with
a double-double, posting 10 points and seven rebounds.
The ThunderWolves' win was their fourth in six all-time
meetings with the Wildcats and snaps a two-game losing streak
in the series.
