PUEBLO, Colo. (December 5, 2014) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team improved to 4-0 at home Friday, as it downed visiting Adams State University 90-81 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener. 

The ThunderWolves (4-2, 1-0 RMAC) knocked down five 3-pointers during a 7:21 time frame in the second half to move a three-point lead at 49-46 to a 12-point advantage, 69-57, with 10:26 remaining in regulation. 

Senior Devonte Malcolm (G, Sierra Vista, Ariz.) hit three of those 3-pointers, while freshman Josh Smith (G, Colorado Springs, Colo.) hit two of his five shots from long range during that span.

Smith led the ThunderWolves with 18 points on 5-of-10 (50%) shooting from 3-point land. Junior guard Rico Spikes (Merriville, Ind.) posted 13 points, nine rebounds and seventh assists. Sophomore forward Stevan Radakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) was the spark off the bench in the first half, as he scored eight of his 13 points in the frame. Junior forward Bronson Moton (Aurora, Colo) pulled down 10 of his 11 rebounds in the second half and finished with eight points.

As a team the ThunderWolves shot 41.4 percent from the field, while allowing Adams State (3-1, 0-1 RMAC) to shoot 47.6 percent. The Pack recorded 10 steals and the Grizzlies turned the ball over 16 times, while CSU-Pueblo turned them into 17 points.

The ThunderWolves scored the first bucket and didn't trail until midway through the first half. The Pack lead was seven at 15-8 with 14:08 showing on the game clock, as Radakovic successfully converted two free throws.

Adams State slowly chipped at the lead and with 9:44 left in the half owned its first advantage of the night, 20-19. The teams traded buckets and were knotted at 29-29 with 5:58 remaining in the half. 

The ThunderWolves then recorded a 12-2 run during the next 2:22 of game time to open the double-digit lead at 41-31. During the run, four players scored, including four points from Radakovic. 

The large lead held to the halftime buzzer and the Pack owned the 47-36 advantage. CSU-Pueblo had nine steals in the first half. 

The lead of nine went to three early in the second half, but the showering of 3-pointers by the ThunderWolves erased any momentum gained by Adams State.

But with more than 10 minutes left to play, no lead is safe, as the Grizzlies cut the deficit to just four at 75-71 with 6:30 left on the game clock. A pair of Moton free throws, followed by a pair of defensive stops set up a big Smith 3-pointer from the corner to push the lead back to nine at 80-71 with 5:29 left.

The ThunderWolves complete the home conference weekend hosting Fort Lewis College (5-2, 0-1 RMAC), who are receiving votes nationally, Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.