Strong defense, high-octane first-half helps key Pack win.

PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Dec. 7, 2010) - It was a tale of two halves for the ThunderWolves Tuesday in a non-conference tilt against Johnson & Wales.

Luckily for the Pack, they built a nearly insurmountable lead in a great first half as CSU-Pueblo held off a valiant charge by NAIA foe, Johnson & Wales, for a 70-63 win.

CSU-Pueblo was dominant in the first half, doubling up the Wildcats 42-21 and keeping Johnson & Wales to a 21.7 percent shooting percentage from the floor.  Daniel Pierce (Sr., Edgewood, N.M.) nearly turned in a double-double in the first half alone, going for 12 points and eight boards, part of his 15-point, 14-rebound effort on the night.

After opening a lead as large as 22 midway through the second half, Johnson & Wales dominated CSU-Pueblo, however, for the rest of the game, outscoring the Pack 29-17 for the rest of the game.  The Wildcats would only get as close as six, however, as the Pack held on for the seven-point victory.

The Pack got strong games from Nathan Tigner (So., Fort Worth, Tex.), who came through with a career-high six steals, and Leon Flowers (So., Wichita, Kan.), who drained 10 points, all coming in the first half.

CSU-Pueblo will get back into conference play Friday when it hosts Colorado Christian, followed by a home date with Colorado School of Mines Saturday.