PORTALES, New Mexico (December 31, 2014) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team closed the nonconference portion of its schedule, while also capping the 2014 calendar year with a 105-66 road victory at Eastern New Mexico University, in Portales, New Mexico Wednesday.
The ThunderWolves improved to 8-4 overall with the victory and swept the season series with the Greyhound after recording a 109-81 home win Nov. 18. The Pack have scored more than 100 points twice this season, both in the contests against ENMU.
CSU-Pueblo shot 53.3 percent from the field and knocked down 18 3-pointers (18-for-40 - 45%) in the win. The ThunderWolves forced 19 Greyhound turnovers (11 CSU-Pueblo steals) and totaled 29 points off turnovers. The Pack totaled only 10 team turnovers and dished out 21 assists.
The ThunderWolves scored 43 bench points, guided by senior guard Devonte Malcolm's (Sierra Vista, Ariz.) 19 points, which tied a game-high with teammate junior forward Bronson Moton (Aurora, Colo.) and ENMU's John Gilliam. Malcolm went 7-for-12 (58.3%) from the field and hit 5-of-9 (55.6%) from beyond the arc. Moton was 8-for-12 (66.7%) from the field and added four rebounds. Senior guard Jed Knafelc (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) added 14 points and a team-high five assists, while senior center Tyrone Marshall (Denver, Colo.) also posted 14 points.
Moton got the scoring started with a 3-pointer 44 ticks into the game, but a 5-0 run by the Greyhounds an early 5-3 lead. The two-point advantage would be the only time the rest of the game Eastern New Mexico would lead, as the Pack posted a 9-2 run to open the 12-7 lead with 16:37 remaining in the half.
The game remained a two or three possession game for the next six minutes and with 10:52 showing on the clock the home team only trailed by five at 25-20. The ThunderWolves then posted a 9-0 run and led 34-20 with less than eight minutes remining in the opening half. The road team held a lead as large as 16 before settling on a 45-30 halftime advantage.
The ThunderWolves shot 56.1 percent from the field in the second half and forced 15 ENMU turnovers, en route to leading by as many as 41 points before settling on the 39-point victory, 105-66.
Next, CSU-Pueblo returns to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play Jan. 3 at University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The Cougars rank No. 3 in the latest national poll and own a perfect 12-0 record (6-0 RMAC) with a 7-0 mark at home in 2014-15.
- 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.
