Pack loses second half 14-point lead, miss chance to beat 7th-ranked Orediggers.

GOLDEN, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Dec. 10, 2011) - In the second half of Saturday's showdown with 7th-ranked Colorado Mines, CSU-Pueblo seemed like it was well on its way to its first win over a top-ten-ranked team since becoming a Division II school in 1990.

But Mines did what top-ten teams do - come back and challenge for the win. 

With the ThunderWolves leading 53-39 with 15:29 remaining in the game, Mines went on a 15-3 run, using four consecutive three-pointers, to close the gap to 56-54.

From there, the dogfight ensued, as the Orediggers countered a three-pointer by Andre Martin (Sr., San Diego, Calif.), which put the Pack up 62-56, with a 10-1 run, taking a 63-66 lead with 8:14 remaining.

The Pack struggled to get back on top throughout the remainder of the game.  CSU-Pueblo got its opportunity when, with 1:15 left and trailing 75-73, following an untimely foul by Connor Roumph (Fr., Pueblo West, Colo.) on Chris Goutama, resulting in three shots, Goutama, who hit five three-pointers in the game, uncharacteristically missed all three free throws.

Getting fouled on its next possession and going to the line for 1-and-1, Martin missed the free throw and put the Pack in the situation of having to foul its way into the lead, which backfired as Goutama atoned for his misses and hit four charities down the stretch, resulting in the 81-75 final score.

The loss dulled monster games by Martin, who had his second 20-point performance in as many nights with 21 points, as well as a career-best night by Ty Trahern (Sr., Kit Carson, Colo.), who had 23 points.

With the loss, CSU-Pueblo falls back to .500 with a 4-4 record and 1-3 mark in RMAC play.  CSU-Pueblo will return home to face Western New Mexico and New Mexico Highlands next weekend.