GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Dec. 1, 2013) - CSU-Pueblo saw a would-be win fall through the cracks in the final moments as Colorado Mesa outlasted the Pack 79-77 at the Holiday Inn Thanksgiving Classic in Grand Junction Sunday.

CSU-Pueblo led for nearly 39 out of 40 minutes, but not when it counted as the Mavericks chipped away at a Pack lead in the second half until it overtook the Pack with 24 seconds left in the game on a shot by Carlos Perez, giving Colorado Mesa a 78-77 lead.

Perez's shot capped an 11-3 run over the final three minutes of the game that overturned a nearly double-digit lead by the ThunderWolves.  In the final three minutes, CSU-Pueblo was 0-for-4 on field goal attempts, with its final attempt, a would-be tying layup by Nate Tigner (Sr., Fort Worth, Texas), blocked by Mesa's Joe Kiely to seal the Mavericks' win.

In the second half, CSU-Pueblo built a lead of as much as 14 and led by 10 or more for nearly half of the second half.

The game's frustrating end came on the heels of an otherwise solid performance offensively for the Pack as four ThunderWolves scored in double figures, led by Tigner's 19 points.  Julian Caldwell (Ontario, Calif.) followed up with 17 points and nine rebounds.

CSU-Pueblo, now 2-2 on the young season, will begin RMAC play this week when it travels to Adams State and Fort Lewis Friday and Saturday.