CHADRON, Neb. (GoThunderWolves.com – Feb. 22, 2014) – The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team shot an impressive 52.9 percent (27-51) from the field and nailed 11 3-pointers as they bounced back from a Friday night loss, with a convincing 84-70 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win at Chadron State College, Saturday night here in the Eagles' Armstrong Gymnasium.
The victory was the ThunderWolves' third in the last four and allowed to improve to 14-10 overall and more importantly to 12-8 in RMAC play. That mark has the Pack in a 3-way tie for fourth place in the RMAC standings heading into next weekend.
Chadron State, held to 35.5 percent (22-62) floor shooting, fell to 10-15 and to 7-14 in the RMAC.
The ThunderWolves had four starters finish in double figures, a group led by Julian Caldwell's (Jr., Ontario, Calif.) 20 points. Tyrone Marshall (Jr., Denver, Colo.) also tallied 14 points and 11 rebounds to record his first double-double as a ThunderWolf while Nate Tigner (Sr., Fort Worth, Texas) scored 15 points. Matt Rosenbaum (Sr., Sidney, Neb.) had 11 to aid the cause.
Grant Stone led the Eagles with 13 points.
The Pack shot 63.6 percent (14-22) from the field and the same from 3-point land (7-11) while building a comfortable 43-31 lead at the half. Seven different Pack players hit 3-pointers in that half while Marshall had 12 points and eight rebounds in the opening 20 minutes thanks in large part to 5-for-6 shooting.
However, it was not easy for the ThunderWolves early on as they trailed by a slight deficit for much of the first half before an 18-3 run over the final 7:20 of the half gave the Pack the advantage they would need.
Chadron State pull within two (49-47) with 13:09 left before two Devonte Malcolm (Jr., Sierra Vista, Calif.) treys and a dunk gave the ThunderWolves an 8-point edge with 11:29 to go.
The Eagles would get no closer than within six the rest of the way as the Pack put the game away by hitting 8 of 9 free throws in the final 2 ½ minutes.
The ThunderWolves will now return home to face top-ranked Metro State on Friday (Feb. 28) at 7:30 p.m.
