PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - March 1, 2013) - The last time the CSU-Pueblo men's basketball team defeated Metro State, Arden Dennis (Sr., Denver, Colo.) was the most popular kid in the first grade.
After Friday night, Dennis might now the most popular kid in the whole city of Pueblo.
Dennis' drive down the line and running right-hander with three second left delivered an earth-shattering 70-69 win over second-ranked Metro State, giving the ThunderWolves its first win over Metro State since 1998 and its first ever win over a top-five ranked team.
The Pack's heart-thumping finish nearly never happened as CSU-Pueblo saw a 68-61 lead disintegrate down the stretch. After Bryse Velasquez (Sr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) used a layup to put the Pack up by seven at the 4:44 mark.
But as you would expect the second-ranked team to do, Metro State circled the wagons and embarked on a comeback. The Roadrunners forced two missed field goals and three turnovers down the stretch while closing the advantage with two field goals, including a three-pointer, as it used a 7-0 run to tie the game at 68-68.
With 18 seconds remaining and the score still tied, Jed Knafelc (Jr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) was called for a foul on a rebound on a 50-50 ball, sending Metro State's Mitch McCarron to the line. But McCarron could only hit 1-for-2, giving the ThunderWolves the final possession only trailing by one, and setting up Dennis' heroics.
Pack coach Ralph Turner said the game-winner was nothing fancy, coming on a standard end-of-game play that the team runs to get must-have points.
"It was something we run at the end of games where we look for three or look for a mismatch," Turner said. "Sometimes we run the play to Bryse because he's such a good foul shooter, but Arden took it and put it in."
"Coach drew up a play and he said we'll see who's guarding you or Bryse," Dennis said. "I wanted the ball in my hands and when I got a lane to the basket, I finished."
The importance of the win, especially considering the Pack's history against Metro State, cannot be overstated. CSU-Pueblo has lost 17 straight to the Roadrunners, and the Friday night win is especially remarkable when considering how the Pack lost in its first meeting this season with Metro State. The Roadrunners were in top form in an 88-68 win, going on runs of 12-0, 17-2 and 11-2 in a dominating win.
Additionally, since the Pack's last win over Metro State, the Roadrunners have won two national championships and been ranked number-one in the nation multiple times, including most of the season this year.
Regardless, the playoff-bound ThunderWolves are quick to point out that their season will not be defined by this win.
"To win here is big, but if we have learned anything, it's just one game," Turner said. "But I am happy for the kids and the school."
CSU-Pueblo, though, has no shot of winning out and hosting a home playoff game, so it will conclude its regular season Saturday at Regis, awaiting the determination of its opponent in the RMAC Tournament, which begins Tuesday.
