ThunderWolves overturn 22-9 deficit to claim victory.

PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Dec. 17, 2011) - After New Mexico Highlands opened up the game sinking four three-pointers and using a 13-2 run to go up 22-9, things looked bleak for the ThunderWolves.

But the Cowboys didn't account for the tenacity of a renewed ThunderWolves squad, which would go on to outscore New Mexico Highlands 62-40 the rest of the way, claiming an exhilarating 71-62 win over the Cowboys to improve to 6-4 on the young season.

The Pack responded to the 22-9 disadvantage by grinding out a 13-2 run of its own over a tenuous and hard-fought 11-minute span to close the game to 24-24 with 1:27 left in the first half.  It would trail 27-24 going into halftime, but the team's head was held high, with visions of much better things to come.

Those good times came in the form of a three straight momentum-shifting possessions four minutes into the second half.

Trailing 33-29, CSU-Pueblo started on 12-0 run, taking its first lead since the opening tip on a three-pointer from Bryse Velasquez (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.), going up 35-33.

Following a throw-away by Marquis Whitt, Andre Martin (Sr., San Diego, Colo.) drove to the bucket and slammed it home, going up 37-33.  Arden Dennis (Jr., Aurora, Colo.) immediately stole the ball away and went up for a dunk himself, and suddenly the ThunderWolves were up by six, 39-33, and would not trail again.

After building confidence from that dunk, Martin put the team on his back to dominate the rest of the way, finishing with 17 points, 15 rebounds and five steals.  Kevin Coates (Sr., Annapolis, Md.) was a beast on the offensive glass, coming through with 15 rebounds of his own, 11 coming offensively.  Together, they became the first ThunderWolf duo to each go for 15 boards in a game in at least the past quarter-century. 

With the big win, CSU-Pueblo improves to 6-4 and 3-3 in RMAC play.  Next up is UC-Colorado Springs on New Year's Eve, with a 3 p.m. tip-off.