New Mexico Highlands 78, CSU-Pueblo 76

CSU-Pueblo had the ball on the game's final possession Tuesday at New Mexico Highlands, but the Pack missed a last-second three and lost a heartbreaker 78-76.

The Pack, which was engaged in a back and forth game that no team was able to build greater than an eight-point lead, trailed by six, 76-70, with 2:13 remaining in the game.

But CSU-Pueblo battled back, getting back-to-back threes from Daniel Pierce (Jr., Edgewood, N.M.) and Roman Van Allen (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif.), tying the game at 76 with 1:10 remaining.

Highlands went up by two on two foul shots, and the ThunderWolves had a chance to either tie or take the lead with eight seconds remaining in the game.

The Pack opted to go for the win, putting the ball in the hands of Van Allen, who netted a team-high 18 points on the night, but the three-ball went wide, handing the win to the Cowboys.

CSU-Pueblo head coach Pat Eberhart said he has no qualms about the way the game ended.

"You play to have a chance to win in the final possession and we were able to do that," Eberhart said.  "In that situation, the guy I want to have the ball is Roman Van Allen, and sometimes you hit those kinds of shots and sometimes you don't.  We didn't but that doesn't take away from the great game we played."

The ThunderWolves were able to keep pace with Highlands, who has arguably been playing the best basketball in the RMAC as of late.  The loss, however, still puts the Pack in jeopardy for the RMAC West Divison's final playoff spot.  CSU-Pueblo, still a half-game up on Western New Mexico for the final playoff spot, faces a must-win against the Mustangs Saturday at Western New Mexico.  The Mustangs are a tough team at home, having handed nationally-ranked Mesa State a loss in the most recent game on their home floor.