PUEBLO, Colo. (November 14, 2014) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team used a strong second-half effort to down visiting West Texas A&M University, 94-81 Friday, in the opening game of the season and the first day of the 31st Annual Al Kaly Shrine Classic at Massari Arena.
The ThunderWolves (1-0, 0-0 RMAC) defeated the Buffaloes by shooting at a 56.4 percent clip from the field, while holding their opponent to 39.5 percent from the floor. The Pack won the intangibles as well, including rebounding 42-37, assists 18-11 and blocks 9-3. CSU-Pueblo shot 80 percent from the charity stripe, going 24-for-30.
Just like he did in exhibition play, junior guard Rico Spikes (Merriville, Ind.) filled the stat sheet, as he posted a game-high 21 points with seven rebounds and six assists. He was an efficient 6-of-7 from the field and was a productive 9-for-10 from the free throw line.
Six of the nine blocks came from senior center Tyrone Marshall (Denver, Colo.). He finished the game with 19 points, seven rebounds and the six swats. Both Marshall and junior forward Bronson Moton (Aurora, Colo.) shot 6-of-9 from the field, while Moton knocked down 3-of-4 from beyond the arc to finish with 18 points. He added a team-high eight rebounds with three blocks.
The game saw 12 ties and 10 lead changes, which was the story of the first half as either team could develop a lead larger than four. WT was the first to post a lead larger than two possessions, as it used an 8-0 run to open a 46-38 advantage with just 1:36 left in the first half.
The ThunderWolves won the final minute and a half 8-3, but still trailed at the halftime buzzer, 49-46.
The Buffs came out of the locker room and took a 55-48 lead in the early minutes of the second half, but the Pack used a 7-0 run to knot the contest 55-55 with 17:12 remaining in regulation. The run was capped by four straight points by Marshall.
The game was tied 62-62 for the 12th and final time with 14:48 left, as the ThunderWolves opened a six point lead on a freshman Will Newman (G, Lawndale, Calif.) layup with 12:35 showing on the game clock to give the Pack a 70-64 lead.
West Texas A&M would get the game within two at 72-70 midway through the half, but a Spikes layup gave the Pack a 78-70 lead with 7:58 remaining and the ThunderWolves were able to deny any comeback attempt to post a 13-point victory.
CSU-Pueblo concludes the weekend with Midwestern State University Saturday at 7 p.m.
- 30 -
As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
