CSU-Pueblo 81, Chadron State 73

CHADRON, Neb. - Senior Marc Williams (Sr., Seattle, Wash.) had a career night, netting 30 points, as well as ten boards for his first career double-double at CSU-Pueblo opened its RMAC schedule with a bang against Chadron State, winning 81-73.

Williams went 10-for-17 from the field, draining three threes, also a career-high, setting the tone for a ThunderWolf team that never trailed by more than three points all night long.  Williams netted 17 in the first half.

His game was key, as the theme for the Pack on this night would be the inability to build a comfortable and "safe" advantage over the Eagles.  Though the Pack never trailed by more than three, they couldn't get more than a three score separation from the Eagles until late in the game.  It wasn't until the five minute mark that a string of big plays by Donell Wells (Jr., Denver, Colo.) gave the ThunderWolves a bit of breathing room, opening up a sizable lead that would stick. 

Inside of a two-minute window, Wells, who only had one solitary point to show for his night, sank four straight charity buckets, recorded a steal, a block and a rebound, and allowed the ThunderWolves to establish a game-high 10-point lead.  Wells used the final minutes to run his point total to 10 in the hot and cold night.

CSU-Pueblo was strong shooting the ball, hitting 47 percent of their shots, but more importantly, outrebounding the Eagles 43-33 for its highest rebound differential in nearly two seasons.  The ThunderWolves' success on the offensive glass was key, taking down 18 offensive boards.

CSU-Pueblo will look to go 2-0 to start their conference schedule when it heads to Nebraksa-Kearney to tangle with the Lopers.